Passover is so central to our lives because it is one of the few holidays that is observed in our own homes. We lead the meaning-making process for ourselves, our family, and our friends. With each retelling of the story, we have a chance to find new meaning in this age-old account of the Exodus.  The story is part of our Jewish psyche.  

Preparing for Passover is more than cleaning the kitchen, getting out the pessadic dishes and cutlery, and preparing the festive meal. As modern Jews, we take pride in our ability to explore, analyze, and draw our own conclusions about that which is important to us. Preparing for Passover means taking the time to glean new insights, to gather new information, to reflect more deeply, in order to make the story more meaningful for those we hold dear.  

What if you came to this year’s Seder with new knowledge, new ideas, and even new questions?  

Toronto’s first Jewish University for a Day—a program of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in partnership with the Toronto Board of Rabbis and the Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies at York University—will focus on the theme “Passover: The Story, the History, the Celebration.” Members of JTS’s renowned Jewish Studies faculty will be joined by scholars from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, York University, and the University of Toronto, as well as rabbis from several local congregations to form the faculty for this adult learning experience.  Participants will deepen and broaden their understanding of Pesach, exploring topics including new readings of medieval haggadot, artistic and midrashic renderings of Moses and Miriam, food symbolism and identity, and Pesach in the Soviet era.  

For complete program details and to register for this unique adult learning event, visit www.jtsa.edu/judtoronto.