The Broken Seder: A Post-Oct 7 Art Installation Debut
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 6, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT:
will.reisman@progress-pa.com
415-420-0905
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco to Host Visionary Debut Art Installation in April Created by Bay Area artist Day Schildkret, The Broken Seder will explore themes of Jewish identity, post-October 7
SAN FRANCISCO, CA— In April, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco will present the debut of The Broken Seder, an original installation by Bay Area artist Day Schildkret that will explore the impact of Jewish identity in a post-October 7 world. The installation–a multimedia, immersive piece–will be open to the public at the JCCSF from April 3 – 6.
Against the backdrop of rising antisemitism, The Broken Seder reimagines the ancient Passover Table as a visceral meditation on Jewish identity, resilience, and the universal human experience of grappling with a fractured community in turbulent times.
“We are incredibly honored to host this innovative installation created by a truly inspiring artist,” said Paul Geduldig, CEO of the JCCSF. “Art is intended to generate discourse, tough conversations and healing opportunities, and that’s exactly what will be offered by The Broken Seder. We are all living in a different world after the events of October 7, and the JCCSF is proud to offer a gathering for the community and a sense of belonging through our programming.”
A living, impermanent art project, The Broken Seder invites visitors to encounter the tensions between grief and resilience, and uncertainty and renewal, amidst the backdrop of rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism, all through bold symbolism, layered soundscapes, and visceral imagery.
“I want this work to challenge audiences to sit with the tension between fracture and wholeness and fear and faith, as these questions move through Jewish life worldwide,” said Schildkret. “The Broken Seder can create a powerful space for dialogue. It will bridge the personal and the political, hopefully sparking urgent conversations about identity, ritual, and resilience in an era of profound uncertainty.”
This will be the first large-scale artistic installation in the Bay Area to reflect the Jewish perspective of October 7, exploring the realities of Jewish life, identity, and resilience in its aftermath. It is rooted in the themes and traditions of Passover, which takes place from April 12 – April 20. The work is intended to reinvent the classic Passover question—”what makes this time different from all other times?”
The installation will be free and open to the public, with registration for specific visiting days and times available starting late February. Visitors will also be able to sign up for artist talks, Jewish learning, meditation sessions and art workshops.
A North Bay resident, Schildkret is an award-winning Jewish queer author, artist, ritualist and teacher. He is the is author of two acclaimed books, “Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change” and “Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit through Nature, Art, and Ritual”, both of which have redefined how people think about ritual and resilience in modern life.
The Broken Seder is supported by the Creative Work Fund, a renowned grant program that is celebrated for its excellence and known for artworks that embody cultural richness, diversity and belonging. The program celebrates the role of artists as problem solvers and the making of art as a profound contribution to artistic innovation that strengthens communities. The Creative Work Fund is a program of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund that also is supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
ABOUT THE JCCSF Urban and inclusive, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco enriches, educates, and celebrates this vibrant City and its people. The JCCSF explores Jewish culture and traditions as a pathway for joyful, meaningful living. In creating a community that welcomes everyone, the JCCSF uses the power of gathering together to share, inspire, support and restore.
Through an array of programs and experiences, audiences can enjoy an appearance by renowned performers and cultural icons, as well as to spirited holiday celebrations, and interactive pop-ups inspired by Jewish culture. The Fitness Center supports wellness through exceptional trainers and a daily lineup of classes including yoga, Pilates, and tai chi. Preschoolers discover the vital early love of learning at one of the three exceptional schools, and year-round, the JCCSF enriches the lives of youngsters of all ages and whole families.
ABOUT DAY SCHILDKRET
Day Schildkret is internationally renowned as the author, artist and teacher behind the Morning Altars movement, inspiring tens of thousands of people to make life more beautiful and meaningful through ritual, nature and art.