Holocaust survivors enjoy pre-Passover Seder

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United Jewish Appeal-Federation (UJA) of New York volunteer Ellen Grossman and 25 of her friends organized a pre-Passover Seder for 85 Holocaust survivors at the Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center in Oceanside April 17.

This is the sixth year that Grossman and her volunteer friends hosted and sponsored the Seder, something she does as a birthday present to herself, and a joyous event for the survivors.

“I have been active in the UJA for 20 years,” Grossman said, “And six years ago was a big birthday. I wanted to do something philanthropic, I wanted a party where I could give back. I had worked before with Self Help, a social services agency that works with Holocaust survivors, and that was where I got the idea.”

Grossman said she told her friends instead of a new pocketbook, or other gift, she would like them to donate what ever they felt was right to the Seder. “We raised between $10,000 and $12,000 that first year. We paid for everything soup to nuts, partnering with Bagel Boss of Roslyn. We even paid for every taxi that brought the survivors to the Seder.”

“I decided that year I would do this Seder every years until there were no more survivors,” Grossman added.

Sunday’s diners were seated at banquet tables and participated in a Seder led by Cantor Ofer Barnoy of Temple Beth Shalom who officiated. The Seder featured traditional prayers and songs.

The volunteers served a catered lunch to the group and joined them for the Seder. Grossman and her friends and the group Self Help raised $6,000 to pay for this year’s event, including the transportation costs to bring the survivors to the event and back home.

Six million Jews and millions of others perished in the Holocaust. Now 70 years later these survivors, many in their 90’s, are given a chance to come together and celebrate life thank to Grossman.