The coronavirus, like an unwelcome and uninvited guest reminiscent of the biblical plagues of the Exodus, will force the most-observed annual Jewish ritual experience, the Seder, to be practiced very differently.
For Passover 2020, which begins in ten days, American Jewish Committee (AJC) has produced a special Haggadah Supplement. The two-page insert includes a meaningful prayer and a communal responsive reading related to holding the Passover Seder under unusual circumstances created by the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
“Continuing to engage people across the United States and around the world is vital to AJC’s mission. With considerable experience in utilizing communications technologies and a social media platform of 2.3 million followers, AJC was able to pivot quickly from traditional in-person diplomacy and educational advocacy work to online interaction,” said AJC CEO David Harris.
It is as predictable as day follows night. A crisis erupts — pandemic, financial, security — and the conspiracy theorists come out of the woodwork. Today, with the Coronavirus pandemic, is no different. It is equally foreseeable that, sooner or later, the Jews will be among those blamed. Isn’t the heart of antisemitism, past and present, the assignment to Jews of evil powers and demonic aims?