Vegan Passover Seder In Hermosa Beach Explores Freedom Through Environmental And Ethical Lens

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — As Jewish communities prepare for Passover, a new event in Hermosa Beach is aiming to connect one of Judaism’s oldest narratives with some of today’s most pressing global concerns.

On April 7, Jewish Vegan Life (JVL) will host “Freedom by the Sea: A Vegan Passover Seder,” an event that blends traditional ritual with a plant-based meal and a focus on environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and ethical responsibility.

Organizers say the gathering is part of a broader effort to interpret the Passover story through a contemporary lens while maintaining its core themes of liberation and moral responsibility.

“Passover asks every generation to see itself as if it personally came out of Egypt,” said Raquela Karamson, CEO of Jewish Vegan Life. “Our generation faces new forms of bondage: environmental destruction, unsustainable food systems, and indifference to suffering. This Seder asks how the story of liberation might guide us today.”

The event is part of JVL’s Passover Earth Day campaign, launched two years ago to encourage Jewish communities to consider how traditional values can inform responses to environmental and social challenges.

Participants will take part in a traditional Seder format guided by a Vegan Haggadah, alongside a fully plant-based Passover meal that reimagines familiar dishes without animal products. Organizers say the goal is not to replace tradition, but to extend its ethical framework into modern contexts.

Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard, who will lead the Seder, emphasized that the initiative builds on longstanding Jewish teachings. “Passover tells the story of a people who discovered that freedom is not just something we receive, it is something we practice,” he said. “For our generation, that means asking how the choices we make, especially around food, affect the well-being of others, the earth, and future generations.”

Bernhard, who has more than 25 years of congregational leadership experience, currently serves as rabbi of Temple Shalom of the South Bay and has been involved in promoting environmentally sustainable practices within Jewish life.

The event will also include contributions from JVL leadership, including Michael Gribov, Head of Movement Building, who highlighted the environmental dimension of dietary choices. “This event invites participants to think about how the values of Passover can be reflected in everyday decisions,” he said, referring to the broader campaign linking the holiday to environmental awareness.

While traditional Passover meals often include foods such as brisket and gefilte fish, plant-based Seders have gained traction in recent years. Jewish law does not require the consumption of meat during Passover, and some communities have adopted alternative symbolic foods. One example is the use of a beet in place of the traditional shank bone, a substitution referenced in classical Jewish sources.

Organizers say interest in vegan Seders reflects a wider trend among some Jewish communities seeking to align dietary practices with ethical and environmental considerations. At the same time, they emphasize that participation does not require adherence to a vegan lifestyle.

“The program is designed for a broad audience,” JVL said in its event materials. “Families, educators, and individuals exploring Jewish ethics and food traditions are all welcome.”

The setting in Hermosa Beach is also intended to reinforce the theme of environmental awareness, with the proximity to the Pacific Ocean serving as a reminder of ecological interdependence.

Attendance is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance, with registration closing on March 30. Organizers noted that no tickets will be available at the door.

Jewish Vegan Life describes itself as an international movement focused on exploring how Jewish teachings on compassion, justice, and stewardship can inform modern living. Through educational programming and community events, the organization aims to encourage dialogue around ethical choices within a Jewish framework.

The Hermosa Beach Seder represents one example of how traditional Jewish observance continues to evolve in response to contemporary issues, while remaining rooted in longstanding religious and cultural practices.