Rabbi Steve of Sim Shalom, the Online Synagogue, did what he does best this Passover. He shared his joy of music and Judaism through unique and innovative services to several communities.
On the second night of Passover he was invited to lead a seder in Queens to a primarily Mandarin speaking congregation. Christian churches more and more are offering seders to their communities since Jesus was a Jew and Rabbi. The Last Supper was a seder and they want to experience an authentic representation of this important event of the Christian liturgy.
The Bowne Street Community Church in Flushing, Queens, New York is home to the combined congregations of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing (1842) and the First Congregational Church of Flushing (1851).
Rabbi Steve and the three Pastors of the combined congregations offered a seder. Rabbi Steve’s explanations and even his jokes made in English were translated into Mandarin by the host, Pastor Matthew Hsu. The children needed little help in understanding their job which was to find the aifikommen, a special piece of matza, hidden for them. The congregants appreciated the details of the seder order and enjoyed a delicious festive meal afterwards.
All in all it was an evening to remember. Rabbi Blane did the work of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, by bringing two diverse communities together in worship.
To learn more about Sim Shalom and the innovative services offered by this uniquely online congregation visit the website.