Celebrating Passover and Easter — Religiously or Culturally— While Sheltering-in-Place
As we move through the physical separation we’re experiencing due to the COVID-19 emergency, with resulting stay-at-home orders, cultural, family, and religious celebrations take on added importance for our community’s health and well-being.
I want to make sure people are aware that despite our current situation, Passover and Easter celebrations are still happening, albeit digitally.
Passover and Easter are important for many in our community, myself included. I hold many fond memories growing up, celebrating Passover with my family. Passover is a major holiday in the Jewish community where we celebrate the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. Growing up, we would do a family seder which I led. My dad — never a fan of long ritual meals — would always get impatient and ask me to go faster.
Another favorite tradition of mine is the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s Easter in the Park, which I’ve always looked forward to attending each year. They have everything from a kids’ Easter egg hunt to a more, shall we say, adult-focused Hunky Jesus/Foxy Mary contest.
This isn’t just about religious observance. It’s also about secular, cultural belonging and celebration.
It’s hard to process that this year, instead of gathering together with family and friends and at places of worship or public parks, we’ll all be sheltering-in-place. Though it won’t be the same, there are so many diverse holiday activities taking place virtually. I wanted to share some of the virtual get-togethers and celebrations that the San Francisco Interfaith Council helped our team compile.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I encourage you to do your own research to find a celebration that feels right for your spiritual or cultural practice.
Easter
Grace Cathedral’s Livestreamed Holy Week and Easter Sunday Services
St. Mary the Virgin’s Online Services for Holy Week and Easter Sunday
GLIDE Memorial Church’s Easter Sunday Service Facebook Livestream
Bethany United Methodist Church’s Facebook Livestream Services
San Francisco Chinese Baptist Church Livestream in Chinese and English
St Mary’s Cathedral Livestreams for Holy Week and Easter Sunday
Mission Dolores Basilica Parish Livestream Holy Week and Easter Sunday Mass in English and Spanish
Plus, it wouldn’t be San Francisco if I didn’t include the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc.’s Easter Sunday Hunky Jesus/Foxy Mary contest — virtual this year, of course
Passover
Sherith Israel’s Second Night Seder & Fundraiser for HaMotzi/Chicken Soupers
Congregation Emanu-El’s Second Night “Adult-Focused” Passover Seder
Temple Beth Israel Judea’s Zoom and Facebook Live Seder
Sha’ar Zahav’s Second Night Seder
The Kitchen SF All In Zoom Seder
Passover Q&A with Beth Sholom Rabbis
Congregation B’nai Emunah Zoom Seders
Chabad SF’s Virtual Seder, Seder-in-a-Box, and Chametz Selling
Coming Together
When times are tough, finding community and ritual is incredibly uplifting and helpful.
Even if these holidays aren’t events you celebrate, or you don’t identify with a religion, it’s never a bad time to reach out virtually to make connections or to seek support from a faith community (or non-faith community!) in San Francisco. We have some incredible faith leaders here who are available to help and provide support right now, even if you’re not a member of their community.
From a Hunky Jesus contest, to Passover-in-a-Box, to virtual mass and seders, there are a lot of great options for all different types of spiritual practice this week. I hope it’s a nourishing and meaningful week for all.
