Pesach is always a happy holiday. It celebrates the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in Egypt, marking their transition from oppression to freedom and their birth as a nation. It is a festival of hope, renewal, and gratitude, centered on family gatherings (Seder), sharing the story of redemption, and rejoicing in divine protection.
However, the 2020 Jewish Passover coincided with the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing millions to celebrate alone or in strict isolation, breaking long-standing traditions of multigenerational family gatherings. Lockdowns, curfews, and fears of contagion forced loneliness and anxiety. Many elderly Jews and families spent the holiday entirely alone, unable to share the Seder, the most family-oriented holiday, with children or grandchildren.
Traditionally, Passover involves large gatherings and travel, which were made impossible, leading to many experiencing their first Passover without family in decades. In addition, the context of the pandemic brought intense fear of sickness and death, with many wondering who might fall ill, making the traditional questions poignant and frightening.
Strict lockdowns, including a curfew on Seder night, prevented travel and forced the closure of hotels and public spaces, creating a somber "lockdown night". The holiday was widely regarded as a moment of "contemporary affliction" and forced loneliness, leaving a lasting memory of trauma for many in the community.
The Unexpected Challenge in Porto
That year, the Jewish Community of Porto launched a challenge to its members, which was accepted by many. Each member would take photos of his/her Seder table in their home before Yom Tov and immediately would share the images with the entire community. The result was that in each residence, the residents didn't feel completely alone. Besides they were reading, eating and drinking, they were also thinking how their fellow Jews were enjoying the beautiful Seder tables they had prepared with such good taste.
