TEL AVIV – More than 70 ambassadors and senior diplomats from 40 countries celebrated Passover a few weeks early on Wednesday evening, taking part in a mock Passover Seder hosted by the World Jewish Congress and The Israel Project. 
“The World Jewish Congress is honored to host ambassadors and diplomats from around the world for a small tasting of Jewish tradition and culture. Each year on Passover, Jews tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt in great detail and analysis, and remind ourselves that in each and every generation, we are obligated to regard ourselves as though it was we who actually left Egypt,” said World Jewish Congress CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer.
“These words hold special meaning this year as we mark the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel, the end of the Jewish exodus from exile and the reunification of the people and the land. This miracle was made possible thanks to the support of the international community, and we are pleased to celebrate together with the representatives of so many nations from around the world,” Singer added.
The ceremonial Passover meal – complete with a reading of the Haggadah, traditional foods such as matzah and charoseth, and a search for the ‘afikoman’ (found by the first secretary of the embassy Honduras) - was led by Israel’s former ambassador to Britain, Daniel Taub.
The guests at the Seder included, among others, the ambassadors of Russia, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Latvia, and Slovakia, senior diplomats from the embassies of the United States, Egypt, Austria, China, and Italy, and Israeli officials including Minister of Construction and Housing Yoav Galant. For many of the foreign guests, this was their first experience at a Passover Seder.
World Jewish Congress CEO Singer was joined at the Seder by the Chairman of WJC-Israel, Gad Ariely, The Israel Project CEO Josh Block, TIP Vice President Lior Weintraub, and TIP Chairman Allan Myer.
Weintraub said: “This pre-Passover dinner has become a tradition, in which we take pride hosting foreign ambassadors and distinguished guests, while exposing them to the unique Israeli culture and Jewish tradition.”
This is the second time that the WJC and TIP have partnered to co-host the annual mock seder, which is now in its third year.
