DIY Passover with Matan Inc.

This conversation is part of our series, “DIY Passover with _____” in which Recustom’s Partnerships Manager, Jessica, interviews different Jewish communal organizations about customizing the Passover seder. Read on for her conversation with Jennie from Matan Inc. about greater disability inclusion at the seder table. 

At Recustom, we provide tools to DIY Jewish rituals, including Passover Haggadahs. Our full content library is free to explore here. Learn more about how Matan Inc. is reshaping Jewish communities through disability inclusion here. 

Jessica: I’d love to start by learning a bit about who you are and how your work fits into Matan Inc.’s mission.

Jennie: I actually found Matan through one of their resources. At the time, I was a director of Jewish education at a synagogue and one of the projects I was tasked with was making an engaging, kid-focused explanation of the Passover seder. One of the resources that I used was from Matan, their visual order of the seder. It helped a lot of our learners, across different ages, really understand why we do the seder in a certain order. And, while the resource was designed for folks looking for additional learning support, it benefited everyone. 

That embodies so much of what Matan does: reshaping Jewish communities so that everyone can meaningfully participate. Historically, our support has been focused on synagogues and their religious schools. My role now is focused on engaging Jewish communal professionals who work with young adults in social spaces, so we’re expanding the support we’re offering. There are many important inclusion initiatives that have gained traction in recent years and our priority is to ensure that disability remains on that list of inclusive practices.

Jessica: Could you talk a bit about disability inclusion as a Jewish value and how it intersects with Passover?

Jennie: One teaching that has resonated with me is the story of how Moses is called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Many scholars agree that he had a disability, a speech impediment and often spoke through his brother Aaron. In a conversation with G-d, Moses expresses doubt in his ability to effectively lead, but G-d insists. To me, this expression of B’tzelem Elohim, that we are each created in G-d’s image, confirms that we each have an ethical responsibility to one another to ensure that each community member can participate meaningfully in Jewish life.

Jessica: For hosts who are thinking about how to make their seder more accessible this year, where would you recommend they start? 

Jennie: Good inclusion begins at the start, rather than being reactive. And many inclusion strategies that aim to support specific needs, are actually thoughtful for all people involved. You can start with thinking about the basic room setup. Is the space physically accessible? Then, you can start to think about how to make the content accessible. I’d recommend getting really clear about both of these pieces. Spend some time thinking about who is going to be in the room and what accommodations they might need.

I have young children, so this thinking is always in the back of my mind. I try to plan for interesting, content based activities that might keep their hands busy while they sit. 

I’d also be open and acknowledge the length of the seder from the beginning so attendees can set expectations. I’d encourage opening with something along the lines of, “Welcome to my Passover seder. If you haven’t been to one before, they can sometimes be long. If anyone needs a break at any time, you’re welcome to get our of your seat. If you need to use the restroom or just need some space, feel free to take it without asking. We have a couch in the other room if that would be more comfortable too…”

You can also include something along these lines in your invitation. “Hey, I want to make sure everyone’s super comfortable at the seder. Is there anything that I can do to make sure that happens for you while you’re in our space?” This practice is part of many organizational registration forms, but if you’re hosting informally, I think you can accomplish the same thing with a quick text. You can learn a lot that way. 

Jessica: I think as hosts who regularly have a similar group of people over, we might assume we know our guests well enough to accommodate their needs without asking. But many of our loved ones might have new or different needs then we can’t necessarily see. I think it’s such an important idea to put this question out to all of your guests, not only folks you’re hosting for the first time. 

Jennie: Absolutely, there’s a really necessary cultural shift to being mindful that needs change over time. If you have aging parents or grandparents to consider, it might be more obvious to take their vision or hearing needs into consideration, but everyone has varying access needs. A lot has already changed within Jewish organizational life with consideration around food allergies. Reaching out to your guests in your planning stage and asking about any accommodations and sharing that you want them to truly feel welcome is an invaluable first step in inclusion. 

Find the visual order of the seder Jennie mentioned here and even more Passover content to DIY your seder on Recustom.com.