Passover is a time for the community to gather and break matzah together. The challenge is choosing where and how to celebrate the Festival of Freedom, with synagogues, JCCs and other local institutions putting their own spins on the ritual dinner and opening their doors to all. Chabad offers dozens of seders throughout the Bay Area; for additional events and locations not listed here, see www.chabad.org.
SAN FRANCISCO
Sunday, April 17
“Towards Freedom: A Feminist Seder for Men and Women.” At Congregation Beth Israel Judea, 625 Brotherhood Way. 6 p.m. $18 plus a potluck dish (dairy or vegetarian, desserts not needed). www.bij.org
Wednesday, April 20
San Francisco Multicultural Freedom Seder. Multifaith, cross-cultural kosher seder with songs, storytelling. At JCCSF, 3200 California St. 6 p.m. $15-$40. www.jcrc.org/news-events/events
Friday, April 22
Chabad of San Francisco. Happy hour followed by “luxury seder.” At Impact Hub, 925 Mission St. 6 p.m. happy hour, 8 p.m. seder. $36-$54. RSVP by April 20. www.chabadsf.org
JCCSF 37th annual seder. At JCC, 3200 California St. 6:30 p.m. $70 adults, $50 seniors, $36 children. www.jccsf.org
Magain David Sephardim Congregation. Traditional Sephardic seder. At Magain David, 351 Fourth Ave. 8 p.m. Also April 23. $40. [email protected]
Congregation Chevra Thilim. Traditional Orthodox seder. At Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave. 7 p.m. $12-$50 members, $15-$55 nonmembers. [email protected]
Tuesday, April 26
Older adult Passover lunch. With shortened seder. At JCCSF, 3200 California St. 11:30 a.m. $5-$10. www.jccsf.org
Wednesday, April 27
JCCSF Émigré Seder. Russian-language seder with Yiddish songs. Co-sponsored by Sinai Memorial Chapel. At JCC, 3200 California St. 3:30 p.m. $25. www.jccsf.org
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
Friday, April 22
Congregation Etz Chayim. Community seder with children’s activities and singing. At Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. 6 p.m. $15-$60. www.etzchayim.org
Chabad of Sunnyvale. Traditional, family-friendly seder. At Chabad center, 540 Utica Drive, Sunnyvale. 8 p.m. $30-$40, free for children under 2 without seats. RSVP by April 17. www.chabadsunnyvale.com
Chabad of Palo Alto. Two-track catered seder for families and for young professionals. At Chabad center, 3070 Louis Road, Palo Alto. 7:15 p.m. family seder, 8:45 p.m. young professionals seder. Also April 23 second-night seder at 8:30 p.m. $20-$35. www.chabadpaloalto.com
NORTH BAY
Friday, April 22
Congregation Beth Ami. Community seder, nonmembers welcome. At Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. 8 p.m. $14-$36, children under 5 free. RSVP by April 20. www.bethamisr.org
Russian River Jewish Community. Traditional potluck seder with music by Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble. At Russian River Senior Resource Center, 15010 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville. 5 p.m. $12-$18, half-price for children under 12. RSVP required. (707) 632-5545
Sonoma County Chabad. At Flamingo Resort Hotel, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 8 p.m. $20-$40, children free. www.jewishsonoma.com
Chabad of Napa Valley. Featuring Cuvée Chabad wine. At Chabad center, 18 Lodestar Lane, Napa. 7:30 p.m. $12-$32. www.jewishnapavalley.com
Chabad of Novato. At Chabad center, 7430 Redwood Blvd., Suite D. 7:30 p.m. Also April 23. $12-$36. RSVP and pre-pay required. www.jewishnovato.com/seder
“Exodus 2016.” Family-friendly seder with children’s program and performance. At Chabad Solano Center for Jewish Life, 730 East Main St., Vacaville. 7:30 p.m. Also April 23. $18-$40. www.jewishsolano.com
Chabad of Petaluma. Hebrew/English community seder. At Chabad center, 1970 Rainier Circle, Petaluma. 7:30 p.m. $36, children free. RSVP by April 17. www.jewishpetaluma.com/seder
Saturday, April 23
Congregation Beth Ami. Inclusive community seder. At Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. 8 p.m. $14-$36, children under 5 free. www.bethamisr.org
EAST BAY
Friday, April 22
Chabad of Fremont. Traditional seder with gluten-free Passover cuisine. At Chabad center, 220 Yerba Buena Plaza, Fremont. 7 p.m. Suggested donation $100. www.chabadfremont.com
JCC East Bay/Oakland. Family seder with a social justice theme, picnic-style meal and music by Anthony Mordechai Russell Tzvi. At JCC, 5811 Racine St., Oakland. 5 p.m. $15-$28. www.jcceastbay.org/passover
JCC East Bay/Oakland. Community seder led by Rabbi Mike Rothbaum with music by Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell. At JCC, 5811 Racine St., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. $15-$62. www.jcceastbay.org/passover
JCC East Bay/Berkeley. Family seder for families with young children. Led by Rabbi Bridget Wynne of Jewish Gateways with musician Eric Schoen. At JCC, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. Picnic-style meal; bring pillow or blankets to sit on. 5 p.m. $28, $15 for children under 14. RSVP required. www.jewishgateways.org
JCC East Bay/Berkeley. Community seder led by Rabbi Bridget Wynne of Jewish Gateways with musician Eric Schoen. At JCC, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $42-$62. RSVP required. www.jewishgateways.org
Oshman Family JCC. Community seder with catered kosher dinner. At JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 6:30 p.m. $36 suggested donation. www.ofjcc.org
Chabad of Contra Costa. At Chabad center, 1671 Newell Ave., Walnut Creek. 7:30 p.m. Also April 23. $30-$45. www.jewishcontracosta.com
Chabad of Oakland. Traditional Passover seder and dinner. In Oakland; RSVP for address. 7:30 p.m. $25-$40. www.jewishoakland.org/passover
Congregation Beth Shalom of Modesto. Traditional first-night seder and musical second-night seder, each with catered dinner with vegetarian and gluten-free options. At Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave., Modesto. 7:30. Also April 23. $12-$36, children under 4 free. www.cbsmodesto.org
Saturday, April 23
Modern Exodus Community Seder. Kol Hadash’s humanistic Passover seder with a combination catered/potluck seder meal and music by Ben Brussell. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 6 p.m. $15-$45. RSVP required by April 20. www.kolhadash.org
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews. Secular humanist community seder with English-language haggadah followed by a potluck dinner. At Bothwell Arts Center, 2466 Eighth St., Livermore. 5 p.m. $20 plus potluck contribution, members and children under 12 free. Reservations required. [email protected]
Congregation Shir Ami. At Eden Church, 21455 Birch St., Hayward. 4:30 p.m. $10-$40, free for member children under 12. Advance RSVP by April 20. [email protected]
Beyt Tikkun. Second-night liberation seder with vegetarian potluck dinner. At Northbrae Community Church, Alameda. 5:30 p.m. $15 plus a dish to share, children under 13 free. www.tikkun.org/passover5777
Monday, April 25
Passover lunch seder for older adults. With music by Achi Ben Shalom. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 11:30 a.m. $12-$15. www.jcceastbay.org/passover
Thursday, April 28
“Passover in the Desert.” East Bay-based Wilderness Torah’s four-day Passover celebration with organic kosher food, desert hikes, teen and youth programs and Jewish learning and ritual events. In Panamint Valley, California. April 28-May 2. Prices vary, discounts and work exchange available. www.wildernesstorah.org