CENTRAL Victoria's Jewish community will celebrate freedom from slavery in Egypt, while in lockdown this week.
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Passover begins on Wednesday, with celebrations stretching for 10 days.
The holiday marks the people of Israel's flight from Egypt, the giving of the 10 Commandments and their entry into Zion, the land of Israel.
Central Victoria's Jewish community kehillat s'dot zahav foundation president Howard Nathan said Passover was the highlight of the year.
Mr Nathan said traditionally the group would have a big communal meal - known as a Seder - where they told the story of Exodus.
But this year the community will celebrate online using a livestream.
KSZ will distribute contents of the Seder plate, such as the unleavened matzah bread, to members of the congregation.
Preparation has already begun, what Mr Nathan described as "the mad business of cooking the matzah".
Mr Nathan said the Seder was traditionally a big, celebratory meal with family and friends.
"It's a very highly ritualised celebratory meal, where the children ask the four questions about wisdom and religious belief," he said.
"We leave a chair vacant for the coming of Elijah, and we go outside during the meal and call in Elijah to see if he's there.
"And then we go through the 10 plagues in Egypt, the 10 plagues of slavery, and the 10 plagues that were visited on the Egyptians."
Mr Nathan said the Passover celebrated the individual, and individual rights, as opposed to tribal or corporate rights.
"It means that it is better to be a free person wandering the desert and going through the travails of resettlement, than to be comfortable as a slave," Mr Nathan said.
"That's the key message of Passover, it celebrates individuality over and above corporate comfort.
"It's better to be free in poverty than as a slave to some other person or ideology."
More at: kehillatsdotzahav.org/, a Virtual Seder is online at: tbi.org.au/event/virtual-seder-thursday-9th-april/.
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