Passover holiday begins Monday at sundown

Passover, beginning Monday at sundown, has been continuously observed by Jews for the last 3,319 years, and local temples are finding new ways to keep the celebration of Israelite liberation inspiring.

Newport Beach’s Temple Bat Yahm will uphold its tradition of hosting a community Seder on the second night of the weeklong holiday, focusing this year on the family, with special activities to keep youngsters engaged and a new, easy-to-understand, more colorful Haggadah.

“This year we have focused on making the service more family friendly without losing the core teachings of Passover,” temple Cantor Jonathan Grant said. “Young or old, anyone who comes will feel like they’ve been to an enjoyable Seder.”

Each table at Tuesday’s dinner will be responsible for introducing one of the 15 Seder rituals, which include the retelling of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, the eating of bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery and the breaking of the matzo (unleavened bread) that represents the haste with which they fled.

“This is our liberation, our festival of freedom, and we are going to celebrate it in a grand way this year,” said Grant, who prepared some original Passover songs for this year’s service.

Like any Seder service, Temple Isaiah’s will examine the qualities that distinguish Passover from other nights by asking The Four Questions, but Rabbi Marc Rubenstein has added a fifth question this year: What does one do when facts and faith are not in agreement?

“This year I want the focus to be more academic and intellectual,” said Rubenstein, celebrating his 40th year as a rabbi. “Many people just believe what they want to believe, ignoring the truth, but it’s my job as a rabbi to instruct them.”

Rubenstein called Passover “the holiest night of the year,” emphasizing that Jews must attend a synagogue to be a part of the Jewish community and have a relationship with God. He hopes to encourage his congregation and others to strengthen their faith by studying their religion further.

“We are really at a crossroads this year with the planet, with the war, with religion,” he said. “I want to build spiritual bridges for people, and it seems like I could do a lot more if people opened their eyes to their own spirituality.”

A Passover Seder will also be led by Rabbi Reuven Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, complete with traditional delicacies and handmade matzo from Israel.

PASSOVER SEDERS

6:30 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Temple Isaiah, 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

COST: Adults: members $38, nonmembers $42; children 3 -- 12: members $15, nonmembers $18; children under 3: free

INFO: To make a reservation, write templeisaiah_faye@ yahoo.com or call (949) 903-0770. For more information, visit www.templeisaiahoc.org .

7:30 p.m. Monday

WHERE: The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach

COST: Adults $60, children $30

INFO: For reservations or for additional information, contact the Chabad Jewish Center of Newport Beach at (949) 721-9800 or visit www.jewishnewport.com .

6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach

COST: Adults: members $40, nonmembers $50; children under 12: free

INFO: For reservations or for additional information, visit www.tby.org or call (949) 644-1999