On the first night of one of the most sacred Jewish holidays, Rabbi David Ariel-Joel will host a service in an empty sanctuary.

The Temple, Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom, has become a virtual synagogue and Ariel-Joel, a virtual rabbi. He prays to God that Zoom will stream the Seder — the traditional Passover feast — without any technical glitches.

For Jewish people in Louisville, and all over the world, it will be an unforgettable Passover, said Rabbi Robert Slosberg of Congregation Adath Jeshuran.

The holiday traditionally spent surrounded by loved ones or in a synagogue with the Jewish community, has been uprooted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like Ariel-Joel, many rabbis are planning to host Passover services and Seders online. Some synagogues are providing materials, food and instructions for their congregants to build Seders at home. And those who won't tune into virtual Seders will be isolated at home, celebrating only with close relatives.

Despite the change to a centuries-old religious tradition, many are embracing their circumstances.

Ariel-Joel is preparing to host four virtual Seders for The Temple’s congregation, who can also purchase catered Seder meals. And although it's not traditional, he's finding the silver lining: Zoom services can reach more people.

"We never had such huge attendance in regular services," Ariel-Joel said. "If all those people actually came to the temple, we wouldn't have enough room for them. We would have an overflowing chapel."

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Rabbi Michael Wolk of Keneseth Israel Congregation will livestream his family’s Seder on Facebook using an iPad propped on the dining table.

Normally on the Sabbath, and holidays like Passover, observant Jews will not use electronics, but Wolk is being flexible in the emergency situation.

"I want to make sure that people don't lose the Passover experience if they don't know how to put on a Seder themselves or if they're alone, which is a terrible place to be on Passover night," Wolk said.

And Rabbi Robert Slosberg of Adath Jeshurun is signing off every online service with the message: “We are here for you. You are not alone. We are in this together.”

People are watching from all over the world, he said.

The message of Passover, a story told for thousands of years of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, rings true with a bizarre, yet meaningful irony in 2020, Slosberg said.

“The theme of Passover is freedom for all people, and here we're all enslaved to this virus, cooped up in our homes,” Slosberg said.

In the very first Passover, Wolk said, the Hebrews were locked in their houses before the 10 plagues hit Egypt.

"That really feels like what we're doing right now," Wolk said. "We're washing our hands, avoiding other people, taking precautions. And then we are closing our doors and sitting down to our meal while a terrible plague is raging outside."

The message Wolk wants his congregation to take from this Passover is the same one delivered to the Israelites in Egypt: You will be redeemed. There will be freedom.

Ariel-Joel will tell his congregants this Passover that unlike the plague in Exodus, which inflicted the Israelites' enemy, this plague doesn't discriminate.

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"That's a good lesson for everyone," Ariel-Joel said. "That we need to stand together and be united as humanity against the plagues and the dangers that are facing us."

And for those who strictly observe Jewish law against electronics on the Sabbath, Passover should be embraced as an opportunity to pass the strong Jewish faith and tradition to the next generations, said Rabbi Simcha Snaid of Louisville's only Orthodox synagogue, Anshei Sfard.

"Everything that we do at a Seder is to pique the curiosity of the children," Snaid said. "This year, we have a chance, in such trying times, when there's so much uncertainty in the world, to come to a Seder where our children see that we're happy, joyous and celebrating, even though outside our door is chaos."

This Passover, Sarah Harlan, the director of The Temple's religious school, is reminiscing on the Passovers of her childhood when her father would embellish the Exodus tale. In his retelling of the escape from Egypt, there were airplanes and army tanks protecting the Hebrew children as Pharaoh chased them.

It's been at least five years since Harlan's three children, now grown, have all been home for Passover, she said.

"In some ways, it will be nice to be all together," Harlan said. "Passover is my favorite Jewish holiday."

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Rabbi Chaim Litvin of Chabad of Kentucky feels similarly, and is finding this challenging time also exciting and invigorating, he said.

Litvin is used to celebrating Passover with his father, Rabbi Avrohom Litvin, who lives down the street. But in isolation, he cannot visit his parents, who are in an age range vulnerable to the virus.

Litvin's brother helped prepare an online educational program called "How to run a Seder" for people in the community who, like him, haven't led one before.

"At my Seder, it will just be my wife and I, with our six kids," Litvin said. "That's it, no distractions — just us connecting with the traditions."

Last year, Michael Friedman, who attends The Temple, had 20 people at his home for a Passover Seder. Family and friends flew in from all over the country and joined at the dinner table, which was made of four 16-foot tables pushed together and covered with a white paper for a table cloth. Everyone was given crayons to write on the table.

Friedman's son helped serve the briskets and circulate the matzo.

This year, the crowd will be much smaller — it may just be Friedman and his son. He's not sure if they'll buy a meal from The Temple or make their own. They'll probably join The Temple's Zoom presentation, he said.

"We will call my family members and wish them chag Pesach [happy Passover] and they will share in the joy and sadness," Friedman said.

Passover Seders around the world always end the same: “Next year In Jerusalem,” everyone says.

"I think we will add to that this year and say, 'Next year, together,'" Friedman said.

Savannah Eadens is a Culture & Diversity reporter for the Courier Journal. Reach Savannah at seadens@courierjournal.com, 502-381-9498 or on Twitter at @savannaheadens. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.

A Passover explainer

Here's a Passover explainer for those who are unfamiliar with the Jewish holiday:

What is Passover?

Passover, or Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday and one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. This year it will be celebrated from April 8 to 16.

Together with Shavuot and Sukkot, Passover was one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals during which the entire population of the kingdom of Judah made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.

What does Passover celebrate?

Passover commemorates the Biblical story of Exodus — where God freed the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.

The holiday is often celebrated for eight days (seven in Israel) and incorporates themes of springtime, a Jewish homeland, family, remembrance of Jewish history, social justice, and freedom — including recognizing those who are still being oppressed today. All of these aspects are discussed, if not symbolically represented, during the Passover Seder.

What is a Seder?

The Hebrew word “Seder” translates to “order,” and the Passover Seder is a home ritual blending religious rituals, food, song and storytelling.

The Seder is a religious service set around a dinner table, where the order in which participants eat, pray, drink wine, sing, discuss current social justice issues and tell stories is prescribed by a central book called the Haggadah.

What food is eaten at a Seder?

Each food is symbolic for an aspect of Passover: A roasted shank bone represents the Pescah sacrifice, an egg represents spring and the circle of life, bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery, haroset (an applesauce-like mixture with wine, nuts, apples, etc.) represents the mortar used by the Jews in Egypt, karpas (or greens, often parsley) to represent spring.

Also placed on the table are three pieces of matzah — a cracker-like unleavened bread — that represent the bread the Israelites took with them when they fled Egypt, and saltwater to represent the tears of the slaves. At your seat, you may see a specific wine glass (or Kiddish Cup). The Torah commands that (at least) four symbolic cups of wine be consumed during the Passover Seder.

Passover Recipes from Kosher.com

Passover Hush Puppy Potato Knishes

6 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

4 eggs, divided

3 tablespoons potato starch

3 tablespoons Gefen mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon salt

pinch of white pepper

2 hot dogs, cut into 1/2-inch slices

Add potatoes and water to cover to a medium pot. Bring to a boil; cook until fork tender. Drain well.

Mash the potatoes well in a large bowl. Add three eggs, potato starch, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt and pepper, mixing well to combine. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with Gefen Easy Baking Parchment Paper. Scoop up mounds of the potato mixture and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Press a hot dog slice into the center of each potato mound until it’s completely covered.

Whisk the remaining egg to make an egg wash. Brush each potato mound with the egg wash. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, until the potato mound starts to brown.

Variation: For a “doughless potato knish,” omit the hot dog, resulting in parve knishes.

Potato Latke Schnitzel

8 large Yukon potatoes

1 large onion, cut into chunks

2 eggs

1/4 cup Gefen Potato Starch

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon Haddar Kosher Salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground Gefen Black Pepper

6 single boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin or 12 butterflied boneless skinless thighs

oil, for frying

In a food processor fitted with the shredding disk, shred potatoes and onions, using medium pressure. Transfer vegetables to a large colander set in the sink or over a bowl; press firmly to drain excess liquid.

Place drained veggies into a large bowl. Add eggs, potato starch, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

Place chicken into potato mixture; coat on all sides.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry chicken on both sides until cooked through and juices run clear, three to five minutes per side.

Pat chicken with paper towel to remove excess oil.

Pesach Blondies (Gluten Free)

3/4 cup oil

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

3/4 cup ground almonds

1 cup potato starch

1 teaspoon vanilla sugar

1 teaspoon Haddar Baking Powder

3/4 cup Glicks Chocolate Chips

Cream oil and sugar. Add eggs and mix. Add remaining ingredients.

Pour into lined 9- x 13-inch (20- x 30-centimeter) pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 40 minutes.