Chief Ronal Serpas and Rabbi Moshe Ulmer of the West End Synagogue will meet Friday (tomorrow) morning regarding a matter important to the Jewish community and Nashville’s 100 Club, the organization that helps pay the debts of police officers and firefighters who are killed or suffer disabling injuries while working to protect our community.
Chief Serpas will help the Jewish community of Nashville celebrate the holiday of Passover by purchasing leavened products, known as “chametz,” during the eight days of Passover. Jews are prohibited from owning leavened products such as bread, cereals, and even beer, during the holiday. In many instances, Jewish families place canned or packaged leavened foods in a closet or cupboard that will stay closed for the duration of the eight days. A rabbi is given the power of attorney to sell all of the products to a non-Jew until Passover has ended. After the holiday ends, Rabbi Ulmer will buy back the leavened products from Chief Serpas.
The West End Synagogue will make a financial donation to the 100 Club in honor of the police department’s assistance to the Jewish community.
According to the Bible, when the Jews left slavery in Egypt, they were in such a hurry that their bread did not have a chance to rise. Therefore, during Passover, the holiday that commemorates the Exodus, Jews are forbidden to eat any leavened product. In place of bread, flat unleavened wafers are eaten during the eight days of the festival.
Chief Serpas and Rabbi Ulmer will meet at the North Precinct shortly after 9 a.m. tomorrow. Media representatives are invited.
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