The Jewish Federation’s 2020 Seder Plate

Representing G-d’s outstretched arm to help our ancestors in Egypt, the shank bone also symbolizes our newly created Federation Crisis Resources through which we extend our reach to our community and maintain our closeness despite our physical distance.

The egg is often used to symbolize the life cycle — or new life — in Jewish culture. By extension, on this Seder plate, it serves as a representation of our Federation’s PJ Library in LA’s multitude of virtual activities for families with young chilren — a much needed service when school and physical interaction with others are prohibited.

This challenging time in our lives mirrors the bitterness of slavery Pharaoh inflicted upon the Jews, represented by the bitter herbs on the Seder plate. To combat our modern-day feelings of unease spurred by this widespread virus, our Federation’s Los Angeles Jewish Teen Initiative held free parent workshops to offer tools and resources with which to help manage teen anxiety and depression.

Usually marked by parsley or another green vegetable, karpas denotes the freshness and regrowth of springtime — a welcome respite from the great sadness we are all experiencing. Our Federation’s professional staff continues to build relationships during this isolating time — our Donor Experience and Donor Relations teams hold virtual meetings and events, and our NuRoots Young Adult Initiative staff conducts lively coffee dates and explores other meaninful avenues of new connection. Through this work and reimagined online Passover experiences, our professionals have fully embraced and embodied regrowth for a new — and inspired — Jewish community.

Traditionally known as the mortar used by the Jews in Egypt to bind bricks to one another, it also represents our Federation’s newly minted Community Call Line that is the glue that holds our community together. If you or someone you know needs access to social services including financial assistance via our Max Factor Family Foundation Financial Assistance Network, please call our Community Call Line at (323) 761-8305 — answered Monday-Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.