Special to the Reporter

Chabad Mercer Island has joined in the massive humanitarian efforts to help save lives and aid Ukrainian refugees, as many community members have contributed to the Ukraine Jewish Relief Fund at ChabadMercerIsland.org/Ukraine.

On April 15, Chabad Mercer Island will join Chabad centers in Europe and around the world in announcing that all are welcome at their Passover Seders — the festive dinners celebrating the holiday.

Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis throughout Europe will be hosting more than 30,000 refugees from Ukraine at their Seders as part of a massive humanitarian effort that Chabad has led in response to the crisis. Thousands more refugees will receive Passover food packages, enabling them to celebrate the holiday despite the difficulties they face.

Chabad Mercer Island welcomes all of the Island’s Jewish people to join the local community Seder in keeping with the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, the most influential rabbi in modern history, who was born 120 years ago in Ukraine. The Seder will take place at 7:45 p.m. at the Chabad at 9010 SE 40th St. Reservations can be made online at chabadmercerisland.org.

The Seders take participants through the story of the miraculous liberation of the Jewish people from bondage in ancient Egypt, while sharing the relevance and beauty of the age-old festival in the modern world, according to a Chabad Mercer Island press release.

“This year, as we sit down to our Seder, we will be welcoming those in need locally, and the needs of those suffering across the globe will be on our minds as well,” said Rabbi Nissan Kornfeld, who directs Chabad Mercer Island. “In Kabbalistic teachings, matzo is referred to as the ‘Bread of Faith’ and the ‘Bread of Healing,’ and we will share matzo with the community at a time when faith, hope and healing are needed more than ever.”