On the evening of March 20, more than 100 people gathered in the basement of St. Patrick's church in Roxbury, a neighborhood of Boston, for the second annual Cape Verdean-Jewish Seder. This event was established last year to build bridges between two historically oppressed, but separated groups of people.

Joel Schwartz, one of the event organizers, said "You'd think they couldn't be more opposite, but right below the surface they have so much in common. Both have been immigrants, both have large diasporas and both can relate to the Passover story of freedom from slavery."

Our custom Haggadah contained a medley of songs, speeches and prayers from the Jewish and Cape Verdean cultures. It was written in English on one side, and translated into Portuguese Creole on the other. I was happy to see so many Cape Verdeans and Jews in attendance and was seated with a few fellow Jewish Americans, four women who had just emigrated from Cape Verde as well as a woman fluent in both languages who had emigrated two years ago. Between their broken English and my very broken Portuguese, we were able to have some basic conversations about the U.S. and Cape Verde.

As a social change activist and someone who considers himself well-informed about the world, I knew an embarrassingly little amount about Cape Verde. Through my discussions and the event's program, however, I learned about the fascinating history and traditions of this tiny island nation. The racist, anti-Semitic and stereotype-filled world we live in could learn a thing or two from events such as this one.

This seder was a rejuvenating experience not only for activists like me, but for everyone present. It convinced me that those of us battling “isms” of all forms are making progress. Seeing people of different races, religions and cultural backgrounds laughing, singing and enjoying themselves together made me feel that all the work I have done has been worth it.

It is through events like this, which facilitate dialogue and real thought, that we can build a new world based on respect, understanding and tolerance.

Eli Plenk is a junior at the Cambridge School of Weston. A graduate of the Workmen's Circle Shule, he has been active with TASC (Teens Acting for Social Change) for the past four years.