The World Union for Progressive Judaism, of which Liberal Judaism is a member, is urging Progressive Jews around the globe to add a beetroot to their Seder plate this Passover to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s most famous national food is borscht, for which the main ingredient is beetroot – making this a symbolic way to express support during the festival.

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s Rabbi Igor Zinkov, Co-Chair of the WUPJ / EUPJ Ukraine Emergency Support Fund, said: “The story of Pesach is the story of freedom – and we will all be praying for those in Ukraine to be free this Passover.

“Many of us feel helpless in the face of what is happening, but all of us placing a beetroot on the Seder plate is a powerful symbol of solidarity.”

The Hebrew for beetroot is selek (סלק), which resembles the word for retreat, yistalku (יסתלקו).

It is suggested that people eat the beetroot at the point in the Seder after the bitter herbs are consumed and before the main meal, saying the following prayer: “May it be Your will, Eternal God, that all the enemies who might beat us will retreat (yistalku), and we will beat a path to freedom.”

The World Union – the global umbrella organisation for more than 1,200 Progressive congregations in over 50 countries – is working actively in Ukraine, alongside its partners in the European Union for Progressive Judaism, to help people get to safety and provide shelter and help for them in neighbouring countries.