Week of April 3, 2015

Newtown Bee staff photos taken for the April 3, 2015, print edition of The Newtown Bee.

Guided by Rabbi Shaul Praver, members of the Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association were joined by a few dozen members of the public for the 2015 Interfaith Seder on March 29. This year’s event, which has been rotating among the town’s houses of worship in recent years, was hosted by Newtown Congregational Church. Rabbi Praver sat near the center of the head table, joined by fellow local clergy members in the public event. Seated at the head table this year, as seen above during a ceremonial washing of their hands, from left, were Monsignor Robert Weiss, Reverend Leo McIlrath, Reverend Mel Kawakami, Rabbi Praver, Pastor Kathie Adams-Shepherd, John Woodall, Reverend Caroline Hamil-ton-Arnold and Reverend Matthew Crebbin. In the upper photo at far right is Rabbi Praver signing Birkat Hamazon (blessing of the nourishment), with Rev Kawakami, from Newtown United Methodist Church, on the left. At right, Elijah’s cup was filled at each table. The Seder took nearly two hours, and that was for a gathering that did not include the full Passover meal, which Rabbi Praver described as “usually being quite a spread” with the traditional gefilte fish and lamb, among other dishes. Sunday’s Seder did include all of the sacred ritual items, however, with each table receiving a Seder plate (shown) with the six traditional items of bitter herbs (celery leaves and horseradish, in this case), charoset, parsley, a hard boiled egg, a roasted lamb shankbone, and, placed in front of the ceremonial plate, whole matzot. At the end of the meal, the 51 attendees joined the local clergy to close with “Next year in Jerusalem,” before Rabbi Praver encouraged “Let’s all go from this Seder and try to do better.” Visit NewtownBee.com for an expanded story and additional photos from last weekend’s event. (Hicks photo)

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Guided by Rabbi Shaul Praver, members of the Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association were joined by a few dozen members of the public for the 2015 Interfaith Seder on March 29. This year’s event, which has been rotating among the town’s houses of worship in recent years, was hosted by Newtown Congregational Church. Rabbi Praver sat near the center of the head table, joined by fellow local clergy members in the public event. Seated at the head table this year, as seen above during a ceremonial washing of their hands, from left, were Monsignor Robert Weiss, Reverend Leo McIlrath, Reverend Mel Kawakami, Rabbi Praver, Pastor Kathie Adams-Shepherd, John Woodall, Reverend Caroline Hamil-ton-Arnold and Reverend Matthew Crebbin. In the upper photo at far right is Rabbi Praver signing Birkat Hamazon (blessing of the nourishment), with Rev Kawakami, from Newtown United Methodist Church, on the left. At right, Elijah’s cup was filled at each table. The Seder took nearly two hours, and that was for a gathering that did not include the full Passover meal, which Rabbi Praver described as “usually being quite a spread” with the traditional gefilte fish and lamb, among other dishes. Sunday’s Seder did include all of the sacred ritual items, however, with each table receiving a Seder plate (shown) with the six traditional items of bitter herbs (celery leaves and horseradish, in this case), charoset, parsley, a hard boiled egg, a roasted lamb shankbone, and, placed in front of the ceremonial plate, whole matzot. At the end of the meal, the 51 attendees joined the local clergy to close with “Next year in Jerusalem,” before Rabbi Praver encouraged “Let’s all go from this Seder and try to do better.” Visit NewtownBee.com for an expanded story and additional photos from last weekend’s event. (Hicks photo)

interfaith Seder recap table setting