Model Seder held for Bnei Menashe in Manipur
Eating matzah in Manipur
Prior to the start of the Passover holiday, the Bnei Menashe in the Indian state of Manipur held a “Model Seder” – a large group run-through of the entire Haggadah, complete with explanations and speeches, so that the Bnei Menashe families will better know the order and customs of the Seder when they return to their homes tonight to celebrate the holiday.
The Model Seder, which took place on Monday this week in Churachandpur, was attended by 550 Bnei Menashe and was organized at the Beith Shalom Community Hall. All of the Shavei Israel Fellows who live and work near Churachandpur attended. Aharon Vaiphei conducted the program while Shavei Fellow J. Benyamin Haokip led the Seder itself T.K. Avihu Singsit gave a short speech thanking Shavei Israel for making the program possible and encouraging the Shavei Fellows to continue their hard work “for the betterment of the community.”
Passover is particularly meaningful for the Bnei Menashe, adds Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund. It “symbolizes the Jewish people’s deliverance, and the Seder embodies the deepest hopes of the Bnei Menashe community, which has been dreaming for so long to make aliyah.”
It goes almost without saying that everyone at Shavei Israel is working to ensure that when the Bnei Menashe say “Next Year in Jerusalem” at the conclusion of the Seder, it will be more than a wish.
We have a selection of photos from the Model Seder below.
The Times of Israel also covered the Model Seder – see the article here.