On Thursday April 20, 10 members of the Tengye Ling community were guests for a Jewish Seder for the second night of Passover, the "Feast of Freedom" which celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.  We were guests in the home of Alec and Shirley Gelcer, a South African couple who live in the Beaches.  The Seder was arranged and co-led by the Rabbi of the Habonim Congregation, Eli Rubenstein.  Both Alec and Eli are Jewish storytellers, with strong Hasidic connections, and so the evening was filled with stories to explain the meaning of this most widely observed Jewish ritual meal.  We learned about the meaning and preparation of the matzah, and the other symbolic foods eaten at this meal.  Most importantly, from the Exodus story and our personal stories, we learned that we share the same feeling of wanting freedom from oppression and that this freedom is a state of mind that we wish for all beings.  Eli led many "nigguns" (Jewish melodies) and we ended with "L'Shanah Ha Ba'ah B'Yerushalayim! L'Shanah Ha Ba'ah B'Lhasa!   Next Year In Jerusalem!  Next Year in Lhasa!" 

Rabbi Eli Rubenstein Singing "Nigguns" (Jewish Melodies)

Putting on "Keepahs" (Jewish Skullcap)

Ven. Lama Tenzin Kalsang doing the ritual hand-washing

Our host, Alec Gelcer, telling a story about the Prophet Elijah

Ven. Lama Tenzin Kalsang (centre), Rabbi Eli Rubenstein (centre-left), the Gelcers (on right), Ven. Tenzin Sherab (far left)