PASSOVER A TIME FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD AND SPIRITUAL REFLECTION.

Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Rabbi Steve Conn and his family have been cooking nonstop, preparing for two days of feasting with friends and relatives that started at sundown Wednesday - the beginning of Passover.

The eight-day observance celebrates the freedom of Jews from slavery in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago and provides a time to recognize others in the world who are in need.

"This is a holiday where we look at issues of slavery and freedom in contemporary society, too," Conn said. "It's not just looking at the past."

Conn and others at Congregation Beth Shalom in Santa Clarita are focusing this year on conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan and ways to prevent violence. Nearly 2 million people in Darfur have been displaced from their homes, and thousands have died of starvation and disease, since the conflict began in February 2003.

But first, it's time to party.

The first two days of the holiday are recognized with Seders. The story of Passover is retold around a meal that contains some foods symbolic of the plight from Egypt. Matzos - flat bread - represent freedom. Bitter herbs, such as horseradish, embody the harshness of slavery.

Around town, traditional Jews have stocked up on these foods and other kosher products to serve at Seders, which are usually celebrated at home.

In the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, many find these foods at local grocery stores, which have portions of aisles packed with jars of gefilte fish, cherry wine and kosher cookies.

But for meats, fish and dairy products, Rabbi Choni Marozov of Chabad of Santa Clarita and others head to specialty stores in North Hollywood and Tarzana.

The rabbi has been busy in the kitchen for the past three days preparing potato kugel, chicken, steaks and different kinds of salads. Meanwhile, relatives from New York are flying into town to celebrate.

Marozov said Passover provides a time to reflect and to be better people.

"We all set limitations on ourselves. On a daily basis we have to go beyond those limitations to be kinder and more spiritual," he said. "On Passover we celebrate that, and we liberate ourselves to be a better people."

Congregations also play host to Seders and can draw in hundreds of followers for the evening. As the Jewish population grows in the region, the relatively few temples are packed with families during Passover.

About 3 percent of the state's population is Jewish, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. There are no data to show how many have moved into northern Los Angeles County, but temple congregations have reported strong growth in the past 10 years as more families move into the region.

In fact, one Antelope Valley man who is a past president of Beth Knesset Bamidbar was squeezed out of a seat at the temple for Seder because 125 families had already made reservations. There was no room left.

So Eli Colvin will go to his brother's house instead.

"What I like best about it personally is getting together with friends and family and just the atmosphere of knowing that we as a people have been a group for more than 5,000 years, and we're still enjoying each other's company," he said.

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Photo:

(color) Rabbi Steve Conn of Congregation Beth Shalom holds a bottle of Passover Coca-Cola. The special soda, marked with a yellow cap, is one of many foods marketed for Passover.

David Crane/Staff Photographer