Seders for participants of various programs, clubs and employees were held in Hesed Polina and the Jewish community centre Rimon. All the members of our community received Israeli Matzah for Pesach from the Eurasian Jewish Congress directed by Alexander Mashkevich.

The word "Seder" in Hebrew means "order" and each Pesach feast always goes according to the specific scenario. The Seder for volunteers was opened by Inna Enina, the head of the programme, who wished them a lot of vigour and a desire to work for the community’s benefit. The director of Hesed Polina Inessa Chugajnova congratulated volunteers, too. Galina Lipker talked about Pesach and its customs, each product on Keara and the significance of the four glasses of wine. The volunteers showed genuine interest in gaining some knowledge of Pesach traditions.

Seventy six people arrived to the Seder of Children's Initiative programme. Children from socially disadvantaged families and their parents gathered in the dining room of Hesed Polina. The President of the Association Mitsva Alexander Baron spoke about the importance of the Jewish family holiday Pesach; then he congratulated the guests and wished them all prosperity.

Anna Sailyants, the community centre teacher and lecturer in Jewish traditions, led the Pesach Seder. There were emotional stories about the ten plagues, the difficult journey of the Jewish people from Egypt and the wanderings in the desert…There were children's eyes full of curiosity, and the words, which some of them heard for the first time - Keara, Haggadah, Afikoman…Anna Sailyants said to children: "Generation after generation our grandfathers and fathers celebrated Pesah; this holiday is in our genes, in deep memory of our people".

Then time for Seder questions came. How does this night differ from all other nights? Why we do eat Matzah? Why we do eat bitter grasses? After all the questions were answered and Ionatan Meerzon found Afikomen, merriment began. Children sang "Dauenu" and listened to a story called "How I stole Afikomen". The youngsters will keep pleasant memories about joyous games and Pesach riddles for a long time.

At the conclusion of the celebration the programme manager Janna Danilenko said: "Dear children, you are members of our Jewish community and we are happy to see you on holidays and weekdays alike". The director of Hesed Inessa Chugainova added: "I wish you all health and joy. Remember, that doors of our house are always open for you ".

Young people met for the Seder in the community centre Rimon. The volunteers of the club prepared everything that traditional Pesach table offers: maror, karpas, hazereth. The teacher in Jewish traditions Natalia Rynkovskaya spoke about the Exodus from Egypt; reading of Haggadah was interrupted by four glasses of red wine; and little Ornella Dorojenko found Afikomen, the symbol of the Pesach lamb. Songs, warm atmosphere and pleasant communication encouraged the young people to stay for a long time.

In the children's club both little children and adolescents sat at the same table. The President of the Association Mitsva Alexander Baron, who came to congratulate them, said: "Children, slavery is horrible! Passover is the holiday of escape from the slavery. Our ancestors once came out of Egypt, but slavery still exists nowadays. Everyone should make the personal way out of it. Slavery may be a bad habit, an unpleasant action and laziness. So, I wish you get out of slavery, that is, to make yourselves better, more creditable, more active."

Pesach Seder was conducted by bright and emotional Anna Sailyants. The traditions of holiday were represented in the theatrical form. The play, where Anna Sailyants was a compere, Nastya Chapova acted as wise grandmother and Sherzod Artygaliev was an inquisitive Jewish grandson, was performed. Children learned about Moshe and terrible plaques; then traditional children's questions were asked.

When everyone sang a song about the Exodus from Egypt, all the children repeated a chorus "We are so happy! Ashem, thank you!" in unison. Then it was time to look for Afikomen and Ratmir Musin was lucky to find it and to get a present. The joy was genuine and when people started singing "Dauenu" some of them cannot resist dancing. The little ones delightfully studied Jewish traditions and Hebrew participating in games.

The Seder for employees was held in the community centre. The staff was warmly congratulated by the president of the Association Mitsva Alexander Baron. Natalia Rynkovskaya led the Seder. The story about the Exodus from Egypt smoothly moved to the discussion about the value of Pesach for the Jewish family and the festive meal for the colleagues was concluded with the Pesah songs.

The family club celebration of the holiday included Pesach dishes contest. There was an appropriately composed Keara, a light cake made of Matzah, fish with vegetables, tender chicken, a Matsah Brai, pumpkin in honey, spring salads and, of course, a handmade Matsah. The head of club Sara Dotsenko presented gifts to all who created these culinary masterpieces: Lubov Koretskaya, Svetlana Nezhinskaya, Tatyana Kaukina, Margarita Plotkina, Ekaterina Grinshtein and Gulaim Musina.

The President of the Association Mitsva Alexander Baron congratulated family club with the holiday. Each Pesach celebration includes the traditional story about the Exodus from Egypt and Arkady Plotkin reminded everyone about hard life in slavery and about a man who led his people to freedom with the G-d’s help. The Jews did not forget to pour a small portion of wine off their glasses after each toast.

Day centre is the club of elderly people. The leader of the program Natalia Kriventsova opened a Seder and the director of Hesed Polina Inessa Chugainova congratulated the seniors with the holiday. Olga Drobnokhod talked about Pesach and its traditions. She suggested that among the elderly there definitely were those who celebrated this holiday in their childhood in a family with the traditional Jewish customs. And such people were found. Liliya Shpanberg and Leya Markina shared their interesting recollections of Pesah from the Soviet time.

There is a group of people in Hesed which need an individual care - the patrons. A Seder for them was held in the dining room. The director of Polina Inessa Chugainova congratulated those present and wished them good health and a victory over all life's difficulties. Olga Drobnohod spoke about the spring celebration and related events. The patrons enjoyed the Pesach meal and warmth of Jewish home.

An ageless club Seven Forty had the Seder in Rimon. Lively beautiful women listened to Galina Lipker's story about Jewish people and their liberation. And the age is not an obstacle when people say to each other "Next year in the rebuilt Jerusalem".

Pesach is the most ancient of the Jewish holidays; it is nearly 3300 years old. Coming out of slavery created Jewish people which have the history and the traditions that protect them even nowadays.

Ludmila Starodubova