Seder invites all to participate in Passover

Students across campus popped open champagne bottles Thursday night. Kosher for Passover champagne bottles, that is. Along with the champagne, the Tau Epsilon Phi house was stocked with all the necessary goodies for a proper seder: matzah, gefilte fish and bitter herbs. The Alpha Epsilon Pi and Zeta Beta Tau fraternities and groups in High Rise East and the Quadrangle's Community House also gathered the necessary items for a model seder. The Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program sponsored the seders Thursday night in order to increase Jewish awareness on campus. "The whole point of doing this is to include Jews and non-Jews alike in understanding the holiday of Passover and why we continue to celebrate it every year," explained Steinhardt intern Jillian Posner, a December 1992 College graduate. "The philosophy of the program that's sponsoring it is to raise Jewish awareness on Penn's campus," said College senior Josh Perelman, who led the seder at the TEP house. Although the seder was not completely authentic, all who attended said they enjoyed its relaxed nature. College freshman Aaron Shapiro, a TEP brother, said, "The highlight was when the Rabbi [Menachem Schmidt, executive director of the Lubavitch House] donned the TEP hat." Wharton freshman Robert Friedman, who is also a TEP brother, said he found the whole experience to be a positive one. "I'm learning a lot about my heritage, plus I get good food free," Friedman said. "I'm proud that my fraternity did something like this." Wharton sophomore Ira Koyner, another TEP brother, said he came "because my grandmother would be proud." "I think it was a fun way to learn and supplement my knowledge about the Passover seder," said TEP brother Dan Stein, a Wharton junior. Not all of the students present, however, were interested in learning about Passover. "I'm not really concerned about the Jewish aspect, but the food is much better than Stouffer," said TEP brother and College freshman Seth Rosenberg. The event was publicized with over 1,000 flyers, in addition to articles, advertisements and invitations. Despite the efforts of the Steinhardt Program, the TEP seder was attended by approximately 25 people, and the majority were TEP brothers. "I don't know if Thursday is a bad night for people," Posner said. "It's not supposed to be a religious-type thing. It's supposed to draw people, not detract people."