Wine and matzah were abound and cellphones were off at the Lubavitch-Chabad Jewish Student and Community Center Monday evening for the celebration of the Passover Seder.
About 300 people attended the Seder, which marks the first night of the Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
William McKell, a UF sophomore who isn’t Jewish, said he has six papers and exams due in the next few days but appreciates taking a break from all of it to attend the dinner
“I’m not even Jewish, but I really love the whole message of Passover — the idea of inclusion and overcoming oppression,” he said.
Every table had a plate of traditional Seder foods along with bottles of wine, grape juice and soda.
Nearly every male head was adorned with a white yarmulke and groups of students arrived together to sit and take part in the traditions of the evening.
Rabbi Berl Goldman, who officiated the evening’s festivities, invited everyone to participate in the rituals.
“Tonight you are going to make this happen, “ he said. “Each and every one of us is going to fulfill the Seder together.”
Rosalind Sobel, 27, and her mother, Lila, reunited at the Seder to spend their Passover together.
“It’s really important every year to hear the story with your family if you can,” said the younger Sobel, whose mother drove up from West Palm Beach to celebrate Passover.
Mallory Zuckerman, a UF public relations senior, said the dinner acts as a great way for students to celebrate a religious tradition away from home.
