(Long Island, NY) During the week of April 12th, Jews and Christians will mark Passover and Holy Week. To commemorate this sacred season, a Catholic church, two synagogues and a Jewish community center are hosting a most unusual interfaith and multicultural Seder that will feature a Haggadah (the Passover prayer service) led by Fr. Bill Brisotti, Pastor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Meal Church and Rabbi Susie Moskowitz Rabbi of Temple Beth Torah in Melville. The Haggadah will focus on social justice, the needs of the poor and liberation of the oppressed.
The Seder supper will be multicultural, reflecting the diversity of the congregation at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, with Kosher-style selections prepared by the Hispanic, African American, Haitian and European congregants and Kosher for Passover food prepared by members of Temple Beth Torah. All the proceeds from this Seder will support the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Gerald Ryan – the largest parish outreach center on Long Island – serves 1,000 people a month, with 50 new cases coming in each month due to cuts in Food Stamps, unemployment insurance and other programs that support struggling Long Islanders.
While some people were relieved that the federal budget adopted a few weeks ago cut Food Stamps by $8 billion rather than the $40 billion proposed in the House of Representatives, the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center saw no victory. Gerald Ryan has been overwhelmed making up for these kinds of program reductions by providing food, clothing and emergency assistance to struggling Long Islanders, many of whom work but don’t earn enough to make ends meet. The Seder will help Gerald Ryan fulfill this mission.
When? Wednesday, April 16th, 6:30 PM during the Passover Season and Holy Week
Where? The Parish Hall of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 1434 Straight Path, Wyandanch, NY
Who? Our Lady of the Miraculous Meal Church, Wyandanch, Temple Beth Torah, Melville, the Dix Hills Jewish Center and the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center, Commack.
