Gathering for a Passover Seder Dinner at Shoreham
Men and women who live at the Shoreham Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) arrived at the Rosewood building, ready to enjoy a Passover Seder dinner on April 3.
The Seder dinner is organized by Esther Shea, a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP).
“Traditionally, it’s meat, vegetables, and potatoes, and I try to find something that’s easier for the men and women who live here to have,” Esther said. “I get the rotisserie chicken. I buy the fresh broccoli. I make the roasted potatoes, and then we make it to their consistency.”
Among those attending the Seder dinner were Kevin McHugh, Scott Ardus, and Patty McCarthy, who made a point to shake everyone’s hand.
Before eating, they enjoyed looking at the Haggadah, which serves as a guidebook to the Passover evening meal. Esther answered questions about the Seder plate, which had symbolic foods like the egg, haroset, and bitter herbs to represent the story of the Exodus —the Jewish people’s journey from slavery to freedom.
This is Esther’s third year hosting the Passover Seder at Shoreham. She got the idea to host after streaming a local Yom Kippur service for some Jewish residents.
“They like celebrating together,” Esther said of her Seder guests. “They like doing different things. I want them to experience everything we do and learn about different cultures.”
For dessert, everyone enjoyed Esther’s noodle kugel.
“It’s a Jewish-style noodle pudding,” Esther explained. “I made it last year for them, and they absolutely loved it, and so did the staff. So, this year I made extra.”
While Esther didn’t get the chance to join her own family for a Seder this year, she was happy to celebrate at Shoreham.
“It’s something different for them,” Esther said. “They are going out on a Friday night for a Seder dinner. It’s important to me.