Passover

2025 Passover

Saturday Evening, April 12–Sunday Evening, April 20

Smith Kosher Dining follows strict Kosher dietary laws for Passover. The meat kitchen is kashered under supervision and only food approved for Passover is prepared and served.

Please note: All Kosher lunches and dinners during Passover require reservations. Any student wishing to reserve meals at the Cutter/Ziskind Kosher line MUST fill out the reservation form. It is important to note that making a reservation commits you to a meal, as our chef prepares food based on reservations.

More information can be found in the Passover Letter from Rick Rubin, Dining Manager, and Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer, Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

If you find you are unable to attend a meal you have reserved, please give the dining staff at least 24 hours notice by emailing Rick Rubin at rrubin@smith.edu Monday through Friday, or Chef Hilary Mikucki at kosher@smith.edu or ext. 2099.

For further information, please contact one of the references below.

Rick Rubin, rrubin@smith.edu
Cutter/Ziskind Kosher Kitchen, 413-585-2099
kosher@smith.edu
Kosher Co-Op Kitchen, 413-585-5074
Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer, Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, bbrombergseltzer@smith.edu

Reserve Passover Meals by April 8

Passover Letter

Dear Smith Students and Community Members,

My name is Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer and I am the Jewish Student Advisor. This letter shares important information about Passover! The Jewish holiday of Passover is a holiday that celebrates and yearns for personal and collective liberation. This year, Passover will take place from the evening of Saturday, April 12 through the evening of Sunday, April 20.

Please read this entire email so that you can be provided with what you need.

Seder On Campus

On Saturday, April 12 at 5:45 p.m., a First Night Seder will be sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, and co-led by Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer along with Smith students at the Helen Hills Hills Chapel. Please reserve a meal, prepared by Smith College Dining Services, on the online reservation form. Gluten-free matzah will be provided. Guests of Smith students are welcome to attend, but must register individually using the online reservation form.

Reserving Meals

The Kosher line in Cutter/Ziskind will provide lunch and dinner for the eight days of Passover to all students who reserve meals. Please use the same link above for reserving meals. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, April 8 at midnight. Breakfast does not require reservations.

Second Seder (Off Campus)

If you would like to be invited to a Second Seder, please email Rabbi Bruce by Tuesday, April 8 at 4 p.m. Please make the subject ‘Second Seder’ and list any food allergies, whether you can walk, can drive, or need a ride, as well as include any other information that may be useful (such as pet allergies).

Volunteering at the Seder

Seders are co-created and held by the entire community, and it is a time where we are asserting that we are free people. Therefore, it is important to try and find at least one role so that we are each part of creating the liberation experience. Please email scjc@smith.edu to arrange to volunteer.

Kosher for Passover Meals

Kosher for Passover meals will be available from our Kosher dining line located in Cutter/Ziskind. There will be meat meals and parve alternatives offered to all students who sign up. Meals will be served on disposable dishes, and meal hours are posted on the Passover page. You will find the Passover page by using the link in the highlighted News and Updates paragraph on the Dining Services website, or by using the link below.

Lunch and dinner will be provided only to those who register. Passover food is ordered long in advance and it is not possible to increase food orders once the holiday begins. Please be mindful when you reserve meals to reduce food waste and unnecessary work for the staff. If you are unable to attend a meal that you had reserved, please contact Rick Rubin and Hilary Mikucki or call 413-585-2099.

All college dining halls will have matzah and hard boiled eggs available during meals, and gluten-free matzah will be available at Chase/Duckett and Cutter/Ziskind. Kosher for Passover macaroons will be available for all teas.

Break-Fast from Chametz (bread products)

Break-fast, when people traditionally eat foods that were prohibited during Passover, will take place on Sunday, April 20 with an event starting at 7 p.m. in the Helen Hills Hills Chapel Sanctuary. Please use the above link to make a reservation for this meal. Note: For those who wish to be precise, the earliest time to eat Chametz is 7:37 p.m.

Selling Chametz for Passover

Halacha (Jewish law) requires us to get rid of all of our Chametz (leavened foods) before Passover. A tradition has developed to sell any Chametz we can not dispose of to a non-Jews for all of Passover. If you would like to sell your chametz through Rabbi Bruce, please fill out the selling chametz form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 10.

Please feel free to call or email if you have any questions regarding Passover.

Rick Rubin, Dining Manager: 413-585-2318
Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer
Hilary Mikucki, Kosher Chef: 413-585-2318