So, on the same day that Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrived in Damascus in an attempt to open a dialogue with the Syrian government, [Lina Stas] and three of her friends broke matzo and tasted the bitter herb along with a roomful of Jews observing the holiday at Temple Beth Hillel.

"My goal is to help Jews be better Jews for the Passover Seder and Christians to be better Christians and Muslims to be better Muslims," [Jeffrey Glickman] said, adding that Christianity and Islam "didn't just pop out into this world, but grew out of a religion which has incredible significance."

STEVE HERSHCOPF , a member of Temple Beth Hillel in South Windsor, talks Tuesday with, from left, Safa Kisar, Sabrina Alokla and Lina Stas, Syrian scholars at Hartford Seminary who were invited to participate in Passover Seder.