Every year, as I gather around the Seder table with my family, I’m transported to a space rich with history and meaning. The matzah we eat during Passover is more than a symbol of freedom—it’s a tangible link to our past, reminding us of our liberation from Egyptian bondage.
“Ha lahma anya di achlu avhatana b’ara d’mitzrayim Kol dihfin yeteh ve yehchol Kol ditzrich yehteh veyifsach: Hashatah hacha Leshana haba, b’ara d’Yisrael! Hashana avdeh Leshana haba, bnei horin!”¹
“This is the bread of affliction, the poor bread our ancestors ate in Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are in want share this bread. As we celebrate here, we join with our people everywhere. This year, we celebrate here—next year, in the land of Israel. Now, we are still in bonds. Next year may we all be free.”
These words, echoing through the years, encapsulate the essence of Passover. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks beautifully describes matzah as both the simple food of enslaved people and the bread that the Israelites ate in their hasty departure from Egypt. It serves as a powerful reminder of our journey from bondage to freedom.
Beyond its historical significance, it’s essential to recognize that matzah represents more than just a historical artifact. It symbolizes our ongoing quest for freedom and redemption. I often reflect on how this humble bread, with its seemingly mundane preparation—flour and water mixed and baked within 18 minutes—carries profound significance. Matzah represents the foundation of a stable society, the first step toward freedom and ultimate redemption.
In today’s world, this reflection on freedom takes on new dimensions. Sitting at the Seder table, I’m reminded of global struggles, such as the recent attacks on Ukraine. This contemporary context underscores the importance of recounting our ancestors’ journey and renewing our commitment to freedom, compassion, and solidarity.
Passover invites us to reflect on different kinds of freedom. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s² vision of freedom—speech, worship, want, and fear—intersects with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik’s³ perspectives from the Seder:
- Freedom of Children: The Seder engages children, emphasizing their role in carrying forward our traditions.
- Freedom of Intergenerational Continuity: Our obligation to recount Jewish history ensures our traditions endure.
- Freedom of Time: Control over one’s time, mirrored in the Jewish calendar, is a hallmark of freedom.
- Freedom of the Law: The Torah provides a foundation for true independence and redemption.
Reflecting on Moses’ story, his frustration and doubt, as expressed in the Torah, resonate deeply with me:
“Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord! Why have You harmed these people? Why have You sent me? Since I have come to Pharaoh to speak in Your name. He has harmed these people, and You have not saved Your people.'”⁴
Even the most outstanding leaders faced moments of doubt and struggle. This personal connection to the themes of struggle and perseverance invites us to consider how these themes play out in our lives. How does the story of Passover inspire you to reflect on your journey toward freedom and redemption?
As we gather for Seder this year, let’s remember our past while reflecting on our present and future. How can we carry the lessons of Passover into our daily lives and communities? Let’s stand together in the ongoing quest for liberation, embracing our shared history and hope for a brighter future.
FOOTNOTES:
- Torah, Jewish Bible. Exodus 12:2.
- FDR and the Four Freedoms Speech. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, www.fdrlibrary.org/four-freedoms. Accessed [Date].
- Soloveichik, Rabbi Meir. Sacred Time, episode 9: “Passover – The Four Freedoms.” Shalom Hartman Institute, 2023, https://www.hartman.org.il/sacred-time-episode-9-passover-the-four-freedoms/.
- Torah, Jewish Bible. Exodus 5:22-23.