Ellen Spiegel said she was initially sad that directives against large gatherings would ruin her plans for a Passover Seder.

But Spiegel, a Henderson Democratic assemblywoman who organizes the traditional meal for her colleagues every other year when the Legislature is in session in Carson City, said she quickly found a silver lining in the dinner she put together online through the videoconferencing software Zoom. On Wednesday evening, she was able to convene family members from Florida, New York, California and Connecticut who had never before been able to celebrate together.

“Having technology was a blessing,” she said. “While my mom's Internet connection was spotty and not everyone was able to prepare all of the traditional dishes (or have all of the traditional items on the Seder plate), we had a great time and were thankful we could be together across the miles.”

A Seder is the most identifiable celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which spans eight days and marks the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. The highly symbolic dinner involves partaking of wine, bitter herbs and matzah (unleavened bread) as attendees tell the story of Exodus through a liturgy known as the “haggadah.”

Hers isn’t the only family carrying on the tradition through Zoom. She said her nieces were “Seder-hopping” from one online dinner to another, and she thinks part of the reason her 85-year-old mother’s internet was unreliable was because so many others in her apartment complex were having Seders online.

For Reno resident Elliot Malin and his wife, however, instructions to practice social distancing made for a bit of a lonely Seder. He smoked brisket and bought kosher wine, while his parents made matzo ball soup. But to keep their distance, the front porch became an exchange platform: his mother left the soup on the stoop and took the meat and wine he left there so each household had a complete meal.

“I didn't want them to miss that part of the holiday. But otherwise the first night was just myself and my wife. And that was ... admittedly very hard ‘cause this is usually a holiday where our entire family gets together,” he said. “It is a little sad, especially since community is so important within the Jewish religion.”

Malin said that while he appreciates what Sisolak is trying to accomplish by limiting the size of gatherings to less than 10 people, he has concerns that it affects Jews’ ability to freely exercise their religion. That’s because of what’s called a “minyan” — a quorum of 10 Jews needed for certain rites, including a burial ceremony called the “mourner’s kaddish.”

Many religious unions and synagogues have voluntarily ceased having minyans during the pandemic. He said where he is concerned is when the directive comes from the government.

“I don't think this was ever malicious. I don't think that it was ever done intentionally,” he said. “My solution would be for the governor to change the language from being 10 or more, to simply not more than 10.”

He said he’s been watching some Shabbat services online instead of going to synagogue in person — although he notes that some rabbis, concerned about the use of technology on the what’s supposed to be a day of rest, are working around the system by starting the live feed before the sabbath actually begins and letting the tape roll through.

“I think that right now their message has been really good — about hope and trying to lift people's spirits,” he said.

Spiegel has also been attending Friday evening Shabbat services online and it’s been a “wonderful” experience.

“You absolutely can still have fulfilling religious experiences online,” she said. “Yes, it's hard to not be able to hug people and be physically present with them. But this is a really good alternative.”

Asked whether she felt any resentment that the governor has restricted gatherings of 10 or more people, she said she supports the decision and thinks the sweeping directive will keep people alive. Her Jewish faith teaches her that there are few higher imperatives than saving a life.

“Jews are raised to believe this,” she said. “And when it's put in a framework of saving a life, people aren't going to be questioning it.”