Jewish organisations are all set to help the needy for Passover.
And mock seders galore have been taking place with many more to follow in advance of the festival next week.
The United Synagogue’s Chesed’s annual Pesach Parcel initiative helps close to 600 families that struggle with the costs of Pesach.
Forty-five US communities participate in the project which provides vouchers or parcels with everyday food items ranging from matzah to cheese, jam, cold meats, tea and coffee.
Help is also given to several charities and individuals who wish to attend shul communal sedarim but cannot afford the cost.
Michelle Minsky, Head of US Chesed, said: “ We provide sensitive and discreet help to those in our communities who are struggling financially, especially at this time, and it is thanks to our generous donors that we are able to do so.
Mill Hill Synagogue member David Landau organises volunteers to care in their local area.
Some members of this group have been doing visits, often with their children, for over 20 years.
Pesach GIFT boxes have been deployed outside kosher shops around London and Manchester in preparation for the festival.
Shoppers have taken up the ‘Buy One GIFT One’ L’Pesach food initiative Kto help those struggling to makes ends meet.
GIFT are also inviting schools and communities to do Pesach food collections.
Jewish Care’s community centres and residents of homes across London and the South East have held mock Seders.
Children from nurseries and schools joined older members to create a special intergenerational telling of the Passover story.
And a choir joined Jewish Care’s Brenner Centre members at Stepney Community Centre.
The Pesach Singers led a lively service.
“Our Seder is one of the highlights of the year here,” said Jamie Field, East London Area Manager.
“For many of our members it is now the only Seder they have. They remember the songs and love the food. It connects them to their past and ensures that they remain connected to the community and religion.”
Children from Nagila pre-school nursery joined members from Jewish Care’s Edgware and Harrow Community Centre for an annual mock Seder.
Clore Manor home in Hendon hosted the Independent Jewish Day School with more seders planned next week.
In Leeds, following the closure of Moortown Deli, the Pesach Pop Up Shop at Etz Chaim Synagogue has proved a huge hit with the community shorn of its main dedicated delicatessen.
Organisers behind the initiative have provided over 200 lines of produce.
Chabad Lubavitch Leeds is running it’s annual Maos Chittim Pesach Fund.
Rabbi Angyalfi spearheads this and local clergy all help.
Rabbi Eli Pink annually provides money for the needy this time of year. And he is distributing food donated by the community along with funds for Yom Tov items.
Funds raised are distributed discreetly to families across Leeds.
In addition, two ladies are running the Mitzvah in a Minute project.
Bins are sited at the Pop-Up Pesach shop for non-perishable items.
Five bins were collected on the first day, food will be distributed alongside the Pesach Fund.