JCC Chicago Celebrates Passover With The Ultimate Matzah-Finding Scavenger Hunt & Pizza/Pasta Party in the Suburbs This Spring
Northbrook, Illinois – JCC Chicago is gearing up to celebrate Passover with two amazing programs for young adults and families.
First up, on Thursday, March 30 from 6-7:30pm, young adults in their 20’s and 30’s can prepare for Passover with Pre-Passover Party, an event with endless pizza, pasta, beer and wine at Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook. For only $5 per person, attendees will also enjoy live music from The Sunflower Headlights, indoor games including pingpong and arcade games. This program is in partnership with Jewish United Fund’s Young Leadership Division and generously supported by the JUF Young Adult RoundTable Grant.
Mathew Charnay, Manager of Family Programming at JCC Chicago shares, “What’s special about this event is that during Passover, tradition instructs us not to eat chametz (bread or any leavened foods) as a reminder that the Israelites left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have time to rise – hence why we eat Matzah. We wanted to offer a fun way for young adults to get together and enjoy as much pizza, pasta and beer before they begin to fast!”
Also in the Passover programming lineup is a family-favorite in its third year! The J is thrilled to announce the return of the Afikomen Scavenger Hunt where families will search the grounds of ‘Z’ Frank Apachi in Northbrook to find the afikomen, or matzah, and compete in Minute To Win It games on Sunday, April 2 from 2-3:30pm. The drop-in event is open to all and FREE. Plus, families in attendance will take home a special Passover goodie bag.
Charnay adds, “This is one of the best programs because a Passover tradition in many households is parents hiding the Afikomen, a piece of broken up matzah around the house for the children to find. We head to one of our amazing campuses in Northbrook to have the ultimate scavenger hunt with games where kids can run around outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather.”
Passover refers to the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt when God passed over the Israelite homes. The story of the Exodus is retold using age-old and contemporary rituals and foods at a large holiday meal called a “seder.” Passover reminds us that we have the capacity to liberate ourselves and others, restoring hope for a better future. The first two and last two days of the holiday are days of rest; work is permitted on the intermediate days.
For more information on JCC Chicago’s Passover programming, please contact Dakota Karson, dkarson@jccchicago.org to be put in touch a program director. Learn more about these amazing programs and how to register at jccchicago.org/passover.
About JCC Chicago:
JCC (Jewish Community Centers) Chicago, founded in 1903 and rooted in Jewish values, offers a life-affirming journey fostering a connected, inclusive community from birth through senior years. With a focus on growing good kids and building connections, it is JCC Chicago’s mission to strengthen the Jewish community, from generation to generation. Today, JCC Chicago serves a diverse population of more than 60,000 community members who learn, grow, and thrive through early childhood, day and overnight camps, teen, adult and family offerings, fitness and wellness, aquatics & sports and special events and happenings year-round.
With headquarters in Northbrook, JCC Chicago has over a dozen facilities that serve the greater Chicagoland area including: seven Early Childhood and Daycare Centers, nine Apachi Day Camp locations, Camp Chi Overnight Camp and Perlstein Retreat Center (located in Lake Delton, WI) and five Community Centers. For more information on JCC Chicago programming and commitment to community visit, www.jccchicago.org.
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