Happy Pesach from ECJS  
In This Issue
ECJS Mazal Tovs
Find a place for Pessach near you
Upcoming event: Futsal Tournament by Maccabi
We have just concluded the ECJS Purim on the Rocks event
Quick Links
Soon to be revealed:
Summer is Here
  
Futsal Tournament by Maccabi!

maccabi

April 21       

  
 Greetings!  
  
We have just cocluded the Annual ECJS Purim on the Rocks event in Amsterdam!Thank you to those of you who joined us for an incredible Purim and for being part of the Fabulous 50's fun. See pictures of the event below. Next European event is Summer is Here.
 
On behalf of ECJS, we wish you and your loved ones a Kosher and happy Passover. ( see information below about Pessach)

We would like to wish Mazel Tov to the following  ECJS weddings:

 

  • Samy Jacobs and Aurelie Benizri.
  • Allegra Feltz and Dan Banitah.
  • Cecile Maman and Aron Levy.

  • Moises Amar and Irina Liora.

If you know any ECJS couples already married or currently engaged, we would appreciate it if you please inform us at [email protected]. We look forward to joining in many happy occasions with you too!

 
 

Find a place for Pessach near you!

 

If you are looking for a place to attend the Seder for Pessach you can contact [email protected] we will be glad to help you.

 

If you would like to sell your Chamets, please contact your local Rabbi.

 Upcoming event

Weekend in Amsterdam with Maccabi!

3rd international Futsal Tournament.

maccabi


 

When: 21st of April

Where: Emergohal, Amstelveen

Time: 14.00-20.00

For more information visit www.purim.ecjs.org

  
We have just concluded the ECJS Purim on the Rocks event!   

  

The event began on Friday with a visit to Dam Square and a boat ride along the canals. Two local Rabbis lectured during Shabbat: Rabbi Menachem Sebbag, a Dutch colonel and army chaplain, and Rabbi Zeew van Dijk, who wove a colorful tapestry of incredible stories about Dutch Jewry.

Saturday night, the Purim celebration began in earnest with a lively Megillah reading followed by a costumed Purim party at the trendy Hotel Arena sponsored by B'nai B'rith and Maccabi. Over 700 attendees partied with DJ Dudu Mazor all night.

Sunday started with a Jewish Heritage tour including the JHM, holocaust memorials and surrounding sites. It was brought to a conclusion at the Portuguese Synagogue for a candlelit Megillah reading by the Chief Rabbi and followed by a festive meal.

Monday the event concluded with a taste of authentic Holland at Zaanse Schans and Edam with their quaint windmills, homes and craftsman shops, including cheese making and wooden shoe making demonstrations. 

Visit the Facebook Group  and view all our "Purim on the Rocks" pictures.

 

adam 1 
 

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adam 3  
 

 
For more info and to register visit www.purim.ecjs.org
  
Email [email protected] for more information. 
   

 ECJS is in the Dutch papers

 

If you missed the ECJS's annual Purim on the Rocks event you can follow the details by reading this articles online written by the Dutch NIK and Dutch NIW papers. Check French paper "Actualit� Juive" Thursday's edition!

 

Click here

 

Dutch NIW Paper

ecjs niw 2 

 

PESACH/PASSOVER HOLIDAY

 

Pesach is the eight day festival of freedom. It begins on 15 Nisan. Pesach this year begins Monday night, March 25 and ends Tuesday, April 2. Pesach celebrates the miraculous redemption of the Jewish people from their oppressive slavery in Egypt

 

Before Passover

It is forbidden to eat Chametz-all leavened foods that contain wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt-on Passover. So put products containg Chametz in a designated place. Then Spring clean for remaining Chametz.

 

Chametz for Sale
Because it is even prohibited to "own" Chametz during Passover, lock your Chametz away and arrange to have it sold to a non-Jew by filling out a form. Sound complicated? It is, so ask your local Rabbi to make the arrangements.

Search for all Chametz
The night before Pesach, search the house for Chametz (blessing 1). Traditionally, we use a candle to light the way, a spoon (as a shovel), feather (as a broom) and a paper bag to collect any Chametz found. In the morning burn all the Chametz found during the previous night's formal search.

Making Something Into Nothing
After cleaning the house, and selling and burning the Chametz, the head of the household says the appropriate prayers (blessing 2), verbally disowning any Chametz that might have been overlooked.

Prepare to Celebrate

To build an appetite for the Seder abstain from eating any Seder plate foods today, especially Matza.

The Three Matzot
Combine intellectual and emotional slavery with Divinely inspired faith, and you have the spiritual recipe for matzot. The mixture inspired our ancestors to follow G-d into the desert with such haste that there wasn't time for the bread that would nourish them to rise. At least one ounce is eaten during the Seder. The three matzot represent the entire Jewish people-Cohen, Levi and Israel.

 

 

Seder No. 1
The first night candles are lit
(blessings 3 and 4). At nightfall the Seder begins with 4 cups of wine, 4 questions, matzah, the Pesach story and bitter herbs.

 

And No. 2
Before the second Seder begins candles are lit at sunset from a pre-existing flame
(blessings 3 and 4). Tonight we begin to count the Omer, which lasts for 49 days. In the Holy Temple the Omer was an offering of barley taken from the first grain of the new crop. We count seven weeks, from the bringing of the first Omer offering (Passover) until the day we received the Torah (the Festival of Shavuot). The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot represent the 49 steps of mystical self-purification and preparation our people went through between leaving Egypt (Passover) and receiving the Torah (Shavuot).
 

On the Seventh Day
Light candles the seventh night
(blessing 3).This day marks the Miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and our total liberation from Egypt. In commemoration, we stay up all night studying Torah.

At Last
After nightfall light candles from a pre-existing flame
(blessing 3). This day, the final day of Passover, emphasizes an even higher level of freedom. It is dedicated to our imminent and final redemption.

 

The Blessings
1 Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Kideshanu Be mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-no Al Bi-ur Chametz.

2 Kol Chah-mirah Va-chah-me-ah Deeeka Bir-shusee Dachazee-tay U'delo Cha-zee-tay Da-cha-mee-tay U'de Lo Cha-mee-tay D'bee-artay U'delo Bee-artay Lee-batail V'lee-hevay Hefker K'afra D'arah.
 

3 Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vitzi-vo-no Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

4 Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heh-che-yoh-nu Vi-kiye-mo-nu Vehe-ge-o-nu Lazman Ha-zeh.
 
 

 
ECJS'S Partnership with Maccabi and B'nai Brith for Purim on the Rocks event in Amsterdam

 

ECJS is proud of its partnership with Maccabi and B'nai Brith.

 

Maccabi and B'nai Brith work to actively strengthen Jewish life in the Netherlands. We would like to embrace our partnership with Maccabi and B'nai Brith and thank them for their contribution to our Purim on the Rocks event and growing organization.

bnai brith logo maccabi  

Sincerely,

 

Zevi Ives
European Center for Jewish Students

Jewish European Professionals