News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

Northern Michigan celebrates Passover

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ohadby/128472541/in/photolist-cmspP-6dCbvT-6ecwyx-7Qc4mY-6ecxgx-6iUvUd-7Gu9ri-AasQy-FUoCY-Fywgm-9AtjUk-bL7QRP-UBm7-bxd8GY-4vtVkP-DYUSU-FtADr-32uNDp-7RHe5E-L2Y8N-9AUuLC-6eAAq2-4JF5SB-rDw1P1-24F6YXu-bKtLUn-4HaPsZ-XKCr-e7Yr5G-fB
Flickr User ohadby

Millions of Americans are concluding their Easter travel plans. But Christians aren’t the only religious group with a major holiday this weekend. Tonight marks the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover. We asked Petoskey worshippers how they plan to observe the week-long celebration.

 

 

Passover commemorates the Biblical story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land. Families usually celebrate the first two nights with a seder - a retelling of the Jewish liberation from Egypt. A seder is typically served with traditional Jewish food such as matzah, brisket, and fish.

Valerie Meyerson is the Vice-President of Temple B’nai Israel of Petoskey. She said Passover is an opportunity for northern Michigan’s small Jewish community to come together.

“The Jewish community is very strong. And I think part of that is because we are a minority, and we’re an all-volunteer congregation...So everybody pitches in. We all know each other, we all get along, we all like each other. We celebrate together. They’re kind of our greater family - it’s the mishpacha of northern Michigan.”

Meyerson said even though their congregation is smaller than those in metro-Detroit or other large cities, it still holds monthly services and gathers for each holiday.