Maine’s Jewish community observes Passover

The Chabad of Maine in Portland filled nearly every seat for its First Seder dinner on Wednesday evening as the city's Jewish community gathered to mark the start of Passover. The Second Seder on Thursday drew a smaller crowd, but both nights were anchored in the same purpose: the celebration and remembrance of the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in Egypt.

Chana Wilansky, co-director of the Chabad of Maine, opened both evenings by lighting candles and reciting a blessing before attendees took their seats. Among those present Thursday was Rebecca Cohen, 17, a Mexican exchange student at Thornton Academy, who covered her eyes with her hands after lighting candles, performing the ritual gesture that accompanies the candlelighting blessing.

Rabbi Moshe Wilansky guided the room through the Haggadah, the foundational seder text that moves through prayers, songs, instruction, food and wine. Children were offered grape juice in place of wine. Early in Thursday's proceedings, the youngest child capable of reciting the Mah Nishtanah was asked to lead the table through the Four Questions, the tradition that opens the seder's storytelling portion.

The Haggadah traces the ritual significance of each element on the Seder plate: salt water representing the tears of enslaved Israelites, matzah standing for bread baked in haste during the flight from Egypt. The evening moved through communal songs, including Dayenu, and moments of open discussion, with attendees reflecting on the meaning of freedom and community.