By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

BLUE ASH - Nearly 300 boxes of food will be delivered to homes this Sunday for the Pesach Delivery Project .

Pesach, or Passover, is one of the most important Jewish holidays, one that even many nonpracticing Jews observe.

"It celebrates freedom. It reminds us of a time when the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt and the time they left Egypt to become free again," said Fran Gafvert, director of volunteer programs for the Jewish Family Service.

But it's also one of the most expensive and difficult to observe, especially due to the cost of matzo, or unleavened bread. A box of matzo costs about twice the price of regular bread, she said.

That's why Jewish Family Service is providing a Kosher-for-Passover hot meal for the first night Seder meal and other items needed for the weeklong holiday to the elderly who are unable to leave their homes, those with disabilities and those in financial need.

"This is the biggest communitywide event in the Jewish community, across all denominations and from temples all over the city," Gafvert said. "It really brings a lot of people together."

This year, Jewish Family Service is also looking to open a kosher food pantry to provide monthly meals, she said.

Gafvert and Program Coordinator Rachel Festenstein worked with more than 500 donors and volunteers to put together the individual food packs. They will be distributed by 70 families on Sunday.

Sharon Spiegel has been with the project since it began as a community service program through Yavneh Day School and Northern Hills Synagogue five years ago. She's made delivering the Seder packages with her family of five a regular part of the Passover observance.

"So many community service projects involve just collecting money. This goes one step further, and the kids get to see it to completion," she said.

Messiah performance

The Sanctuary Choir of the Greenhills First Baptist Church will perform portions of George Frederic Handel's "Messiah" at 6 p.m. Sunday .

The free concert at the church, at Sharon and Winton roads, will feature the Passion, death and resurrection portions of the oratorio. For information, call 825-3722.

5K run on Good Friday

Spring Grove Cemetery will hold the first Lord's Gym Resurrection Run on Friday. The 5K run or walk, which starts at 6:30 p.m. with registration at 5 p.m., is hosted by the Foundation of Compassionate American Samaritans, or FOCAS, a nonprofit organization doing work in Haiti and Over-the-Rhine.

Individuals can participate in the race for a registration fee, $9 if preregistered by Monday or $12 on race day. There is also a free 1-mile prayer walk. The event is followed at 7:30 p.m. by a nondenominational service in the Spring Grove Chapel.

To register, visit Web site or call 621-5300. Proceeds will benefit FOCAS ministries.

To submit religion news, send e-mail kvance@fuse.net or fax to 755-4150.