Every year, it seems, an observant Jew or two will be in Las Vegas for Passover. Like last year, we referred this year’s question to our Jewish answer man, the Wizard of Oyz. Here’s the seder scoop.
As I wrote last year, the casinos don’t hold seders, the ritual dinner celebrated on the first two nights of Passover. Casinos rarely, if ever, sponsor religious ceremonies, though they do host them on occasion in their ballrooms, using their banquet departments. For example, a seder might be conducted at Caesars on behalf of a local synagogue and it might be open to the public, but reservations would have to be made through the synagogue itself; only the Caesars food and beverage department would know that a seder was taking place there, not a reservations agent.
Also, there's a fair amount of ritual at seders, such as place settings (the Passover plate and Elijah's wine cup) and blessings and readings from the Hagaddah (the seder prayer book). Special foods are served: matzo, haroseth (apple, crushed nuts, cinnamon, and honey), moror (grated horseradish), kosher wine, and others. So it's not like a casino can just cook up a big turkey dinner to serve in the coffee shop like on Thanksgiving, or a big ham dinner (to be sure!) for Christmas or Easter.
There are, however, upwards of 20 synagogues/temples in Las Vegas, all of which will either be having their own seders or will be able to recommend the same. Go to www.jewishvegas.com/Synagogue.html for a list of the synagogues in Las Vegas; Chabad of Southern Nevada, chabadlv.org, is a good bet as a place to start looking for a seder.
Also, a subscriber from Los Angeles, RecVPPlayer, sent us some valuable feedback on Passover packages last year and was kind enough to do so again this year, far enough in advance so that you’ll be able to make plans if you go the package route.
RecVPPlayer reports that there are two options for combining seders and accommodations for Passover in Las Vegas this year. The one at MonteLago Resort and Casino is booked through passoverresorts.com, 800-PASSOVER. The one at the Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas Resort is arranged through Laskow Family Tours at laskotours.com, 800/532-9119 (in Florida call 954/894-6000).
Note that these are packages for seders and multi-night accommodations. If you only want to stay for one or two nights, for example, you should check with the tour operators as soon as possible. It might not be possible to book attendance at the seders without booking the accommodations package; in that case and assuming you don't need lodging, call around to the synagogues to arrange for seder attendance.
L’shana tova!
