Ten Chabad Centers Present Jewish Family Festival

Chabad Synagogues and Centers of Westchester County, came together to welcome over 400 people of all backgrounds and faiths to the Jewish Family Festival, an event celebrating Jewish life in the leadup to Passover. The event was held on Sunday, April 2 at Ridge Hill on the South Lawn in Yonkers.

The project, dubbed “Jewish Family Festival,” is a joint project of the combined Chabad Centers of Westchester and the Bronx, a group of organizations that empower Jews of all walks of life to come together to celebrate their heritage. The event’s focus was on the Year of Hakhel or “Gathering,” marked with Jewish gatherings focused on unity, Torah learning and practice.

Prior to the event, Rabbi Levi Groner said, “As the Jewish community prepares to mark the Festival of our Freedom, we’re looking forward to welcoming the community to join us in celebration.” Rabbi Groner is the co-director of Chabad of Pelham, one of the Chabad centers collaborating on the event. “Our goal is to lower the barriers to Jewish engagement and ensure everyone feels welcome and included and has the opportunities and resources they need to celebrate the holiday.”

The Jewish Family Festival draws inspiration from the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, who as part of a global Passover campaign that began in 1954, launched the Shmurah Matzah initiative to create awareness and promote observance of the holiday.

Participants enjoyed family fun for all ages in the form of carnival games and interactive activities, Passover themed arts and crafts and an electric concert from popular Jewish band “Pumpidisa” was a perfect start to getting into the Passover spirit in a way of inclusion and awareness. 

Chabad of Westchester County is made up of 12 Centers across Westchester. They are dedicated to building on the philosophy and mission of Chabad-Lubavitch by providing Jewish communities the education and resources they need to celebrate their culture and engage in Jewish practice in an easy and accessible way. Chabad of Westchester County engages Chabad’s network of human and educational resources to create a culture of inclusion so that all Jews feel welcomed, supported and valued throughout their entire lifecycle.