Denver Seder Starts with Tefillin Mivtzoim

Shluchim to Denver Colorado, Rabbi Benjy and Leah Brackman, hosted their 7th annual Pesach Seder at the Westin Westminster Hotel Ball Room. The Seder began an hour before sunset, allowing the Bochurim, Shmuel Shapira and Levi Ceitlin don Tefillin with the male participants; while sitting at the Seder table before the onset of the holiday.

Chabad of NW Metro Denver hosted its 7th annual Passover Seder at the Westin Westminster. Over 120 people from many parts of Metro Denver area participated. The diverse crowd included an 89 year old Holocaust survivor and an entire Jewish family of Native American descent. “The Seder truly resembled the gathering of Jews from all corners of the world,” said Rabbi Benjy Brackman, shliach of Chabad of NW Metro Denver who along with his wife Leah led the Seder.

The Seder preparations were a combined community effort with many community members volunteering their time to help prepare for the Seder feast.

The Seder began an hour before sunset allowing for rabbinical students Shmuel Shapira of New York and Levi Ceitlin of Montreal to offer the male participants the opportunity to lay tefilin while sitting at the Seder table before the onset of the holiday. While tefilin are typically laid in conjunction with the morning prayers they can be worn anytime during the day. Since Tefilin serve as a sign and remembrance of the rescuing of the Hebrews from slavery by G-d this really was a great segway in to the holiday of Passover, explains Brackman.

The rabbinical students who were visiting NW Metro Denver for Passover are part of a contingent of 600 students who traveled to all parts of the world to provide inspiration to Jewish communities during the Passover holiday. This effort is sponsored and coordinated by Merkos Linyone Chinuch the educational arm of the world wide Chabad movement.

Aside from helping at the community Seder the students visited Jewish inmates in Adams County Jail, distributed matzahs to local families before Passover and set up Passover booths at local supermarkets, all in an attempt to bring Passover awareness to the local Jewish community. By the end of the evening participants left inspired and uplifted by the Seder experience that included not only the traditional Seder fare of kneidelech and brisket but also many insights into the Passover story that were both practical and meaningful.

We at Chabad of NW Metro Denver would like to express our appreciation to the many individuals who contributed to the success of our most beautiful Passover Seder at the Westin Westminster Hotel on the first night of Passover. Beginning with with The Westin’s general manager Dani Stern and his wonderful hotel staff who made this event possible.

A big thank you goes to Arnie and Sarah Miller, Sarit Kaufman, Jamie Gahtan and Pat Meyer who helped with the Seder preparations and setup. Our appreciation to Mr. Jim Dean of Total Beverage for once again generously supplying the seder wines.