Serve. Top with sesame seeds and serve it immediately

Flip it! Next, flip the eggplant over and cook with a lid on the pan on for

Outsiders have historically seen Jews as a cohesive ethno-cultural group, continuing the ceremonies and practises of their forefathers. Rather, Jews residing in and emanating from different areas on Earth hold culturally and religiously unique traditions originating from their differentiating histories that separate them from other populations of Jews worldwide. CULTURAL INTERSECTIONALITY

The Ashkenazim, or Jews of European descent, originally migrated to the continent of Europe following the rise of the Roman Empire, and spread across the nation, initially in the Rhine region of France and Germany on the outskirts of the Empire. Following the rise of the Holy Roman Empire in ~800AD, an intergovernmental coalition which included hundreds of German, Italian, Dutch, Czech and Polish princedoms, the vast majority of Jews living in continental Europe moved to Poland, one of the most tolerant and accepting countries during the Dark and Middle Ages. ~1450AD, following the creation of the nation of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, a Golden Age for European Jews began, where many jobs and governmental positions of high importance were held by the previously marginalised group. However, in the mid 1600s, the power of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth faltered, seeing a division between German, Russian, Hungarian and Russian ownership. This started an era of hardship for European Jews, including pogroms and public burnings of Jewish families and Jewish owned property throughout the aforementioned countries, particularly Russia. This ultimately culminated in the Holocaust that occurred alongside World War 2 which saw 6 million Jews massacred en masse by the Nazi party of the 3rd German Reich. Nowadays, the Ashkenazi population is the most numerous Jewish subcultural group in the world, numbering 6 million in the US, 2.6 million in Israel, 400000 in Russia, 300000 in Argentina, 260000 in the UK, 240000 in Canada, 120000 in Australia, 80000 in South Africa and 5000 im New Zealand.

The Sephardim, or Jews of Iberian descent (Spain and Portugal) also began their migration to South West Europe following the Roman Conquest of the land of Israel. Mainly centred around the town of Sepharad, Spain, the Jews of Iberia enjoyed relative peace and acceptance compared to the other Jews of Europe. Controlled initially by the Pagan Roman Empire, which then converted to Christianity, then the Christian kingdoms of Occitania of France, then the Muslim emirates of Al-Andalusia and Granada, followed by the Christian Spanish kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, the Jews of Iberia held politically essential roles, including acting as the financial advisors of several Spanish and North African Maghrebi kings and dukes. However, in 1492, the king of the newly formed Spanish nation passed a royal law known as the Alhambra Decree formally declaring an expulsion of all Jews, a move quickly followed up by King Manuel I of Portugal in 1496. This edict stated the demanded erasure of Spanish and Portuguese Jewish culture, giving Sephardis 3 options: 1: to convert to Catholicism and therefore to be allowed to remain within the kingdom, 2: to remain Jewish and to be expelled by the stipulated deadline, or 3: to be executed. This resulted in a huge population shift of Jews previously living in Iberia, who moved en masse to South America and the Ottoman Empire, which controlled a major segment of the Middle East. Currently, Sephardi Jews number 1.4 million in Israel, 400000 in France, 300000 in the US, 50000 in Argentina and 40000 in Brazil.

The Mizrachim, or Jews of the Middle East, likewise moved elsewhere following Roman conquest of Israel, but rather than their Ashkenazi and Sephardi counterparts, the Mizrachim chose to move to regions such as Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Morocco and Central Asia. Due to the hugely varied history of each of those aforementioned regions, it is hard to collectively summarise the experiences of Jews specific to those nations. However, several universal themes can be seen within the histories of Mizrachi Jews - they nearly always held a position of second class citizenship within their respective societies, often forced or pressured into concealing their traditional songs and customs, with many being force converted into Islam throughout the millenia. Some Mizrachim however held positions of power and influence as kingdoms and rulers of regions changed, including especially Syrian, Iraqi and Iranian Jews, who held local governmental position's such as mayorships, jobs as merchants, textile workers and goldworkers in the cities of Damascus, Baghdad and Tehran respectively. Following the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948, many pogroms and burnings of Jewish communites occured across those 3 nations, forcing a mass population drain of nearly 50000 Jews from across the Middle East into Israel. Many other Jews of the Middle East, including Moroccan, Tunisian and Algerian Jews, were not forced violently from their homes, rather migrating to Israel in the 1940s and 1950s, searching for economic liberation and empowerment. In modern times, 3.2 Mizrachim live in Israel, with a further 250000 in the US, 15000 in Kazakhstan, 12000 in Uzbekistan, 11000 in Azerbaijan and 8500 in Iran.

Apart from the three larger branches of Jews discussed above, there are several other small populations originating from other places on the planet. These include the Beta Israel tribe of Ethiopia, who number 4000 in Ethiopia and 130000 in Israel - the Georgian Jews of Georgia of which there are 3000 in Georgia and 200000 in Israel - the Bene Israel Jews of Mumbai, India, who number 6000 in India and nearly 80000 in Israel - the Romaniote Jews of Greece, who number 1500 in Greece and 45000 in Israel - the Italkim of Italy, who number 50000 in Italy and 10000 in Israel and the Kaifeng Jews of Chinese origin, who number a tiny population of 1000 in China and only 16 in Israel! Now, during Pesach more than nearly other time of the year, it is important to both acknowledge the diverse history and culture of the Jewish people, but likewise also acknowledge our shared heritage and practises.

Written by Jake Hochstadt on Shnat 2019, Shavit Melbourne

Whenever you talk about the values of Pesach, one of the most common subjects that comes up is the value of being able to spend time with your family at a Seder altogether. This year due to coronavirus, most families are only able to communicate through Skype or Facetime so what are some other values you can discuss that are embedded in the Pesach Seder? One of the most anticipated parts of the Seder is when the youngest child of the family asks the 4 questions. Why are these 4 questions so important? These questions are teaching kids from a young age the value of being curious and inquisitive and that asking questions is a good thing. The same question can be asked when it comes to the story of Pesach and our need to repeat it every year. The story brings to light how the Jew were slaves and then rescued, after the punishment of the 10 plagues, however the point in the story we should focus on is Moshe trying to reason with Pharaoh and show his side of the story, before God summoned the fatal plagues. Moshe shows us compromise and introduces the idea that you should always try and reason with others and try make peace first rather than war.

Written by Rosa Pastor, Zamir Melbourne

QUESTIONS TO ASK AT THE SEDER 1. Do you think that your great - great grandchildren will be sitting at the Seder table like you are? Why or why not? 2. What does the Pesach story teach us about the power of the individual vs the power of the collective? (Moshe would not have achieved what he did without his brother Aaron, his sister Miriam, his wife Zipporah, etc) 3. What is the most empowering part of the Pesach story for you and why? 4. What is the most important symbol on the Seder plate for remembrance and why? 5. Pick a piece on the Seder plate and speak about what it represents in your own life? 6. Do you believe in a God who punishes people and why? 7. Is God compassionate if She/He slayed the Egyptians’ first born innocent sons? Why? 8. What part of the story upsets you the most and why? 9. What’s something new you learnt from the story this year? 10.Of the four sons (or daughters), which one represents you the most and why? Which one do you strive to be more like?

Written by Timnah O, Shavit Melbourne

PODCAST BY KEHILAT KOLEINU MELBOURNE

Welcome to Kehilat Kolenu’s Pesach Podcast. We look forward to bringing you ideas, discussions, and ways to connect you to the Chag in a slightly different way in 2020.

Each year, we come together with our family to tell the story of the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt. It is a jovial occasion, including delicious food, a family catch up, and slightly too much wine. Whilst the story of the Jewish liberation may be many years ago, freedom may still be distant for many people.

"The Seder is not just a celebration of Jewish emancipation. When we tell our story of freedom from slavery, and the exodus from Egypt, we are reminding ourselves not just of the past, but the present too.” Laura Janner-Klausner, Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism

In this episode, Hannah speaks with Hamed Allayahari, owner of Cafe Sunshine aka Salamtea and Hamed’s Catering.

Hamed shares his story of his journey from Tehran to Melbourne via Christmas Island. Hamed fled from his home country Iran, due to persecution he faced as an atheist in a strict theocratic regime. Hamed describes his travels from Tehran to Indonesia to Christmas Island to Adelaide, finally arriving in Melbourne. Hamed’s story is just one of many of those who have and continue to struggle for freedom in the contemporary age.

To listen to the podcast: https:// soundcloud.com/kolenu/episode-1-stories-of

F U N • A N D • G A M E S

Quiz from Miz (Miriam Rubinstein), Ra’am Perth

Your friend Tony has 3 brothers. The names of these brothers The Wicked Son, The Wise Son and The Simple Son. What is the name of Tony's mum’s fourth son? Find the answer on page 17. are

Which Pesach Character are you?

Which Pesach Character are you?

The answer to the Miz’s Quiz: TONY

Select one person to be the person who is staring at the ‘mystery person’, they only let the teacher know who it is. Type it to the teacher in the chat box. Choose one person to be the ‘guesser’. The aim is for the ‘guesser’ to work out who is the ‘mystery person’. Have everyone in the group turn on their cameras. The ‘guesser’ has to ask ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions to the person who is staring at the ‘mystery person’. Ask questions like ‘Is the person under 20?’, ‘Does the person wear glasses?’, ‘Is the person wearing a pink top?’, ‘Does the person start with a letter A?’, ‘Does the person have a ponytail?’ etc. Whenever the answer is ‘no’, the students who that answer describes turns off their camera. If the answer is ‘yes’, the students who that answer does not describe turns off their camera. When the ‘guesser’ is confident of whom the ‘mystery person’ is they can take a guess based on whose cameras are still switched on.

VIRTUAL PASSOVER ICEBREAKERS

• Each person brings an object that symbolizes something (freedom, family, how they feel right now). • Each person finds a google image about what Pesach means to them. • Each person has a go to hum their favourite Pesach song and everyone else has to guess what song it is. • Pesach Trivia. (in zoom groups, the team has to answer 10 questions about Pesach). • You have 2 minutes to go and dress up as your favourite Jewish historical figure. • Put a song on, and everyone has to dance as freely as possible (let's see your craziest moves). A prize for the best dancer. • A Pesach themed Tik Tok. • Each person has to look on their phone and find an image from the last month that shows a moment of freedom. Show the pic and explain why you chose that image. • Colouring in Competition. Everyone has 10 minutes to colour in a Pesach themed picture. • Choose a song like 'We are family' and get each family to change the words in a verse to sing on the night. The host comes up with the chorus. • Dress up like you're leaving Egypt, or as Pharoah etc. Act out the story of the Exodus, use puppets for the plagues. • Give cards with Ma Nishtana in different languages for people to guess the language (German and Russian are always the funniest). You could have each guest Google Translate a different language, and have people guess. • Read sections of the Seder with a different accent ie Russian, South African etc