Aniyha Williams
Staff Writer
About 30 La Verne community members gathered in the Campus Center Ballroom Monday for a Passover Seder.
The ceremony and meal was led by Paul Buch, cantor at Pomona’s Temple Beth Israel, and sponsored by the University’s interfaith fellows, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Common Ground.
The Seder is a celebration and ceremony in honor of the Passover holiday.
It recalls the story of Jews’ exodus from slavery to freedom.
The dinner features a seder plate, with symbolic foods, that help tell the story, as participants read from the haggadah and sample the various foods, such as bitter herbs, boiled eggs, haroset, made of apples and nuts, and more.
The meal also features matzah instead of bread. The flatbread is part of the story; the Jews had to flee Egypt so fast, their bread dough did not have time to rise. Observant Jews eat only matzah and unleavened baked goods during the eight days of passover.
Buch, who led the seder with readings and music, has done so here for 20 years.
“Participating at the University…has enabled me to really get to know the community and acknowledge their commitment to diversity, inclusion and uplifting its students,” Buch said.
“As a Jewish student, this event is also integral to the observance of the holiday of Passover, ” said Adonis Borer, senior psychology major and president of Common Ground. “It’s a really helpful resource to be able to have a seder on campus.”
Marquisha Frost, vice president for inclusive excellence and mission integration agreed.
“Events like the Passover Seder play a vital role in representing our core values (of) community engagement, diversity and inclusion,” Frost said.
Aniyha Williams can be reached at aniyhawilliams@laverne.edu.
Aniyha Williams is a staff writer for the Campus Times, and a freshman communications major with a concentration in public relations.
Antonio Ceniceros is a senior photography major and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. He is also the lead photographer and social media manager for the University of La Verne’s football team, and currently specializes in sports, concert, and fashion photography. You can find his work on Instagram at @flicksbycinco..
