On Wednesday and Thursday evening, Jewish families and communities around the world will gather for the Passover Seder. Together, we will retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt, sing Dayenu, arrange our Seder plates with the symbolic foods, search for the Afikomen, and move through the rituals outlined in the Haggadah.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the elements that make each Seder feel uniquely meaningful. While Haggadot share the same core structure across Jewish communities, every family brings its own minhagim, customs, that infuse the evening with personality and authenticity. Maybe your table features playful props for the Ten Plagues, a creative skit retelling the Exodus, or a distinctive Afikomen-hiding tradition (in my family, we play “hot and cold” to guide the search!). These small touches add a special spark, deepening our connection to the holiday and to one another.
What traditions make your family’s Seder feel distinctly yours and help you connect more deeply to the experience?
Just as each family brings its own flavor to the Seder, Capital Camps has traditions that make our community feel uniquely ours.
- We break into Rikkud (Israeli dancing) in the Dining Hall on Wednesdays simply because it brings us joy.
- Once each session, we gather for Havdalah at the pool (Havdalaqua) to experience the ceremony in a fresh, memorable way.
- All of our cabins are named after places in Israel, giving campers a personal way to connect to the land.
And the list goes on, from all-camp rituals to the new traditions each cabin creates every summer. These moments weave together to make Capital Camps special and make our community truly special.
As your family gathers for Seder, I encourage you to pause and reflect on the customs that make your celebration uniquely meaningful. I hope you will take a moment to celebrate the traditions, big and small, that bring you joy and connection.
Warmly,
Ilana Kornblatt, Assistant Camp Director