A Year After the Earthquake, Chabad of Nepal Prepares for Annual Seders

As the April anniversary of last year’s Nepal earthquake inches closer, the city is still far from a complete recovery, but Chabad emissaries to Nepal, Rabbi Chezki and Chani Lifshitz are planning their annual Passover seders. 

Known for leading the largest Passover seders in the world with anywhere from 1,500-2,000 guests, they expect a smaller guest list this year. 

Always a challenge, this year’s will be compounded with a country-wide gas shortage, the huge expense (the Seders run up a tab of about $60,000) in a diminished economy,  and the usual  difficulties in obtaining quantities of kosher food and matzah–all this while their efforts to help rebuild the shattered lives of their neighbors. 

In addition to the seder they will host, they have also organized two smaller ones in Pokhara and Manang, both tourist favorites.