We are running a first-night Pesah seder this year at the Riverside Church (490 Riverside Dr.) on the Upper West Side. Our Seder registration is now closed. We have reserved some seats for walk-ins, with doors opening at 6:00pm to get a seat. A wine-tasting is at 6:30, and the Seder begins promptly at 7:00pm.
I sign up after registration is full?
First, I’ll put you on a wait-list in case a reserved seat opens. Second, you can arrive as early as 6:00pm tomorrow to get one of our walk-in seats.
I sign up before 3pm ET on Friday?
You’re in great shape to get your most preferred seat!
What happens if I sign up after 3pm ET on Friday?
We’ll have completed our seating chart. That’s okay! We try to leave one seat open at each table for later registrants. That way, you can be with a group of people you’re most excited to spend the Seder with. And we also might need to place you at a mixed table. No worries–you’ll still get the full Seder experience and meet lots of wonderful people!
Rabbi Steigmann will once lead a virtual Seder on myjewishlearning.com! Register here (and as an Ohel Ayalah guest, you get 50% with the discount code OYJOA).
What: First-Night Passover Seder for all in 2025 in New York City.
Date/Time: Saturday, April 12th, 2025. Wine tasting at 6:30pm, seder for all from 7:00pm to about 10:30 pm.
Location: Riverside Church (490 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10027)
Haggadah: A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah (and you can keep it!)
What: We will read (sometimes in Hebrew and sometimes in English), sing, discuss, and debate. And also schmooze.
First and Second Night Seders: When? Where? What?
This is likely to be a large Passover Seder of around 200 people. Some show up at this seder by themselves, some with a family member, and some with a friend. If you wish, you can request a table with singles.
Rabbi Moishe Steigmann, director of Ohel Ayalah will lead the Manhattan seder. These are egalitarian, community seders. People come by themselves and meet others at their table or come with friends and family and (also) meet others at their table.
Sitting around a spread of appetizers, we will delve this year, as we have done in the past, into A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah. You are welcome to take it home when the Passover seder is over. We will read (sometimes in Hebrew and sometimes in English), sing, discuss, and debate. And also schmooze. After dipping into the haggadah (pun intended!) for about two hours, we will be served dinner buffet style (menu below). And after that, Grace, Miriam’s Cup, Hallel, and a lot of singing. The entire event, from beginning to end, will take about 3 1/2 hours.
Coming with friends or family? You will all sit at the same table. Coming by yourself? We will match you with like-minded people. One note: since we prepare seating charts in advance the seder, we cannot always accommodate seating requests of late registrants.
Rabbi Steigmann will also be hosting an online second-night seder for myjewishlearning.com. More information and registration are available here.
Testimonials from past Ohel Ayalah Seders
If it weren’t for the Ohel Ayalah seders, I probably wouldn’t go to any. The rest are just too expensive and not as inviting to new people who don’t know anyone there and are attending alone. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
We feel that it is similar to attending a family seder which we had in our home for many years while our children were growing up. There is a feeling of warmth and homeyness and we thank the organizers for creating an environment that encourages this. We don’t feel judged, only welcomed.
Appreciated that you had it for New Yorkers without a place to go
I liked the joyous spirit, the high level of participation and the singing.
The rabbi’s energy and enthusiasm was inspiring. The Canter’s powerful voice regally initiated the holiday and melodically captivated the participants during the dinner. Though there were many people it felt like a very intimate family seder. It was well organized and the food was fantastic. The seder book was interesting and a nice surprise. The seating arrangement were perfect. I just loved the experience and look forward to next year.
Had never been to a community seder before. Very lovely. Thanks!!
I must thank you so much for the wonderful seder we had with you this past first night of Passover. A remarkable thing happened. It was the first time my 10 year old daughter attended a seder of this kind (and me for that matter!) that delved so deeply. I personally came from a very superficial jewish family so we never read for more than 15 minutes.
What is most impressive – and fun! – for me is the overall ruach that you create in the way you conduct the seder along with Cantor Josh. There’s a great feeling of community in the room . . .
Keep on doing what you’re doing – you’ve got it right.
I loved how warm and friendly the evening was. I was really skeptical because I attended alone but there were some really friendly people at my table and the staff was also very friendly.
I loved that the seder was explanatory and we all got to participate. I love that it was designed so that we would meet as many new people as possible. I love that we got to have a seder for our own age group (20s and 30s). I love the price! I love that we got to keep the haggadahs.
It’s a great sense of community, very welcoming, fun, and enjoyable. The rabbi is great.
I liked meeting new people and having discussions at the table and the haggadah. I really like the wine tasting.
The festive/entertaining elements like noisemakers and the interesting Haggadot really added a lot. The food and the people were great, but the best element was rotating seats – I came to meet new people and that really helped
Great to sing songs that I haven’t sung since I was a child. The food was surprisingly good too.
It was truly lovely. I was in from out of town and felt so welcomed.
I am grateful to be able to attend a seder like this as I do not have a family seder to go to.
I just want to thank you again for providing a home for my little family for the first night seder. There are so few non Orthodox public seders for the first night. It is really greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all your hard work!
With the experience of the first Seder, I was equipped to lead the second night in a way that encouraged participation from everyone, particularly the kids. It was great being at a Seder where we weren’t “slaves” to the same old rote words while still maintaining the order and all the required sections.
The rabbi runs a wonderful warm seder and makes everyone feel welcome no matter what their age.
The seder at Ohel Ayalah was one of the most meaningful and entertaining seders that I have ever attended. I really enjoyed the friendly and relaxed atmosphere, singing, and interactive discussion. I would definitely come back next year and recommend to my friends!
I loved the discussion around the table—we began by being strangers and ended by being friends.
Very friendly and inviting. Good food and I enjoyed the prayers and singing. I also like the way the tables were set. It was very easy to talk to people. I loved having instruments @ the table so we could really get into the spirit.
I liked the happy and community feelings.
I liked that everyone there was in or around my age group. I liked that they tried to get people to get to know each other. I liked that I had a place to go for the 2nd seder when I otherwise wouldn’t have. Also, the price was great.
It was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the interactive discussion. I’ve never really participated in anything like this before. The time flew by and I learned a lot about both Passover as well as the people at my table. It was a perfect combination of learning/religion and socializing. The table rotation was great—I really had the chance to meet a lot of new and interesting people. I also very much enjoyed the musical instruments. Finally, I really appreciated the fact that everything was so efficient and well organized
As a person who is in the process of converting to Judaism, I was able to understand, have fun, and meet new people.
Yes, being new in the city, it was very comforting to be in a familiar setting, even with strangers—it felt like family.
How to sign up? Make a reservation (by paying!)
PLEASE NOTE: The only way to reserve a seat for yourself is to pay. Answer a few easy questions on the registration form, pay, and you will get a confirmation by email. No need to bring it with you. We will have a list of all those who registered. If you don’t receive a confirmation, or if you need assistance, please e-mail me on the Contact Us page.
To get reminders of future events, join the Ohel Ayalah email list. Fill in your address in the box on upper right column.
Can you explain the seder pricing?
In order to cover our mounting costs, we are suggesting two alternative prices. The higher price only partially covers the true cost of running these seders–which includes venue rental, the seder meal, the wine, the haggadah, waitstaff, venue insurance, security guards, and so on. The second is a discounted price for those who cannot pay the full price. We are asking you to pick the price that is right for you.
For First -Night Seder in Manhattan:
Full price: $106 per person
Student Discounted price: $76 per person
We are able to offer the student discounted price (or for anyone who is need) because we have many generous donors who help us meet our expenses.
To see a list of our seder donors, click here.
Payment & Reservation FAQ’s
Can I pay by credit card if I don’t have a Paypal account?
Yes, Paypal accepts cards even from those without accounts.
Can I pay by check?
Yes. Please reach out to Rabbi Steigmann (moishe@ownyourjudaism.org) for more info. Please note that checks must be received by Monday, March 31st, 2025.
To register and pay by check: go to seder reservation form and fill it out, making sure to choose one of the “pay by check” options under “Choose Ticket.”
Can I come to the seder as a walk-in?
Yes, a handful of people are admitted at the door. We will set an entire table for walk-ins, which means that 10 people will be admitted at the door. Also, each year there are people with reservations who decide, at the last minute, not to show up. If we find that there are empty seats about 20 min. into the seder, we will accept additional walk-ins at that time. On the seder night, full price will be $116 p/p and discounted price will be $85 p/p. We do NOT take credit cards at the door. We do accept cash or a check (made out to Ohel Ayalah).
Ohel Ayalah is a religious corporation. Payment for the seder is for a “service” and is NOT, therefore, tax deductible.
Why is payment going to Own Your Judaism?
Own Your Judaism is registered non-profit organization founded by Rabbi Moishe Steigmann, Ohel Ayalah’s director. OYJ runs the operations — both the logistics and business.
What language is used?
If you don’t read Hebrew, not a problem. The haggadah includes the Hebrew text and English translation, and for many segments — songs in particular — it also provides transliteration of the Hebrew. The haggadah is yours to take home.
Is this Seder for me?
Yes! The 2025 First-Night Seder is inclusive of all, and people of all ages come.
What is the menu?
The Seder meal will be catered by Riverside Caterers, NYC. All food will be kosher for Passover. There will be a vegetarian option.
Because of kashrut policies, you may NOT bring any food or drink with you to the seder except for a water bottle, if desired.
Who can I ask if I have more questions?
Can you direct me to other NYC Passover seders?
To find other community seders in Manhattan, https://www.ujafedny.org/find-a-service/.
If you wish to make a donation, you may do so by visiting the Donate page.
Ohel Ayalah is supported in part by a generous grant from the Natan Foundation.
Ohel Ayalah is a project of Own Your Judaism