Passover is one of the most powerful engagement opportunities of the year — a time when people look forward to gathering, sharing traditions, and creating meaningful connections. At Powered By OneTable, we empower our clients to engage with the holiday in ways that feel relevant and meaningful to them and their communities. Keep reading for some suggestions on how you can make the most of your holiday!
Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights: Take this opportunity to make your event special! Start by giving your gathering a theme or intention that will guide all the decisions you make. Simple gestures like providing seating cards for guests will make the experience more personalized. Elevate your gathering by using real plates and cloth napkins, decorating the table with fresh flowers, creating some mood lighting, and playing a swanky playlist will make your event feel more intentional from the moment guests walk in the room.
It Takes A Village: Hosting a holiday gathering can feel intimidating, but a little guidance can go a long way. Offering How To Host workshops, taking hosts on coffee dates and helping them plan their event, and connecting new hosts with experienced ones for mentorship is a great way to build confidence among lay leaders. Penn Hillel offers extra funding for in-home Seders if students attend a hosting workshop. Pro tip: Hosting doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Think of ways to empower guests to help with the experience. Some examples include coming early to help set up, leading an icebreaker, bringing a dish or cleaning up afterwards.
Think Outside the (Matzah) Box: Go beyond Seders. There are so many creative ways to honor the holiday. For example, Hillel JUC of Pittsburgh has given out Matzah Pizza kits to encourage small group dinners during the holiday. Minnesota Hillel has a Pre-Passover Nosh to learn about the holiday and squeeze one last bagel in. College of Charleston Hillel is having a chocolate seder, and Hillel at Virginia Tech is having a Mimouna celebration.
Spread the Word: Passover always tends to sneak up, so starting early is key. Let people know about it via your email signature, social media, and personal invites. Additionally, look back at last year. Who participated? These are the people most likely to engage again. Be sure to send a thoughtful reachout. Your data may also reveal helpful trends about the most popular types of gatherings that you can use to shape your strategy this year.
Keep the Momentum Going: Plan for post-Passover engagement by offering ways for participants to re-engage like with a special incentive for hosting or attending an upcoming program. Sending a survey to gather feedback and testimonials will also help you understand the impact of your program. Think about ways to conclude your Passover programs so that the conversation continues- such as creating a group chat, emailing a recipe or giving guests a small item as a take-home.
Find Your People: Microcommunities are a natural way to explore deep, personal connections and foster belonging. Tap into these groups for Passover gatherings. For example, each year there is a ‘She/They-Der’ at Michigan Hillel for womxn and non-binary people.
Collaborate: So many organizations (including OneTable) have great Passover resources so you can spend less time re-inventing the wheel and more time in person with your constituents. Additionally, partnering with other organizations can help you expand your reach to new audiences.
Tap Into Your Super-Connectors: Every community has those people who always know what’s going on and love bringing others into the fold. Identify them early and empower them to spread the word. At the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, each age group has Community Ambassadors who create peer-led programming through Connect Jewish Tucson.
Celebrate! Passover is a holiday of joy, liberation, and coming together — so don’t forget to celebrate the wins! Acknowledge your hosts, shout out great events, and share highlights from Passover gatherings across your platforms and social channels. Send thank-you messages to those who participated and recognize top hosts in fun ways — maybe a spotlight feature, a small gift, or a personalized note. Celebration doesn’t just make people feel good in the moment — it reinforces a culture of gratitude and encourages them to engage again in the future.