Rockland residents celebrate burning of leaven ahead of Passover
Community takes part in ritual at Spring Valley’s Memorial Park.
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Thousands of Rockland County residents took part Wednesday in the traditional pre‑Passover ritual of burning leaven, with one of the largest gatherings held at Memorial Park in Spring Valley.
Members of the Jewish community, both young and old, arrived by car and on foot to get rid of leavened items before the start of the holiday. The village’s burn site operated from early morning until around noon.
“It’s going amazing, it’s really nice to see,” said Chaim of Airmont, who was among the many participating.
He expressed appreciation for the local first responders who oversaw the event.
“Fortunately, the fire department and the police department are helping the community, being able to have a safe way to burn it and do our tradition," he said.
Participants brought items—sometimes entire boxes—and tossed them into the fire as part of the religious requirement to remove leavened goods, which cannot be eaten or owned during Passover.
The Spring Valley Department of Public Works used bulldozers to feed the fire with wood, while police officers monitored safety and managed traffic to keep vehicles moving smoothly.
For Mayor Schenley Vital, this year marked his first time overseeing the village's event as mayor.
“This is a coordinated effort between our excellent folks at Spring Valley PD and the DPW to make sure that our residents in the village of Spring Valley can safely enjoy such an important holiday season,” he said.
Several similar burn sites were held throughout Rockland County. The Town of Ramapo reportedly operated five locations, and the Village of Kaser hosted one as well.
