Dancing, Singing Highlight Community Women’s Seder

Close to 150 women gathered last month to celebrate the freedom of Passover at a joyous seder at Temple Sinai co-sponsored by National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Atlanta Section and Temple Sinai. The seder’s theme, “From Darkness to Light: A Hopeful Journey Toward Renewal and Redemption,” was displayed on the colorful cover of the seder’s Haggadah, specially created by local artist, Lindsay Belnick.

The annual Community Women’s Seder celebrates the Passover story from women’s perspectives, lifting Biblical heroines such as Miriam, Yocheved, Puah, and Shifra. This year’s Haggadah incorporated the scourge of modern plagues such as antisemitism, inequity, apathy, and fanaticism into the seder.

The spirit of hopefulness was evident in prayers led by Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Sam Trief and Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer as well as in songs led by Schafer and her band. It wasn’t long after the Passover dinner was served that guests began dancing around the ballroom with voices high and tambourines jingling to the jubilant songs and music.

The event was co-chaired by Molly Light and Gabby Spatt, who both serve on NCJW Atlanta’s board of directors and are members of Temple Sinai. Susan Gordon, co-president of NCJW, Atlanta Section, was particularly moved by the gathering of multi-generational women. “With so much strife in the world today, it was beautiful seeing so many happy women of all ages bonding together in prayer and song,” she said. “The energy in the room was exhilarating.”

NCJW is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who, inspired by Jewish values, turn progressive ideas into action. Since 1895, NCJW Atlanta has been striving for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms in our community.