ּעֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ הָיִינו. עַתָּה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין

Avadim hayinu hayinu. Ata b’nei chorin.

We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. Now we are free.

"We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and God took us from there with a strong hand and outstretched arm. Had God not brought our ancestors out of Egypt, then even today we and our children and our grandchildren would still be slaves...More than just ritual observance, we are directed to feel in our own bodies what it might have been like to escape from slavery to freedom.The Exodus story asserts unapologetically that oppression and injustice can and must end, and it lays the foundation for the Jewish vision of a just society. This yearly reminder is a central tenet of Jewish history and culture. For many of our brothers and sisters, however, there is no need for a reminder of the story they carry. " - Becca Goldstein

We read responsively:

Reader: This year, thousands and thousands of refugees fled the Middle East.

All: And too many countries, including ours, failed to welcome them with open arms.

Reader: This year, a politician vying for the most powerful position in our country repeatedly proposed policies grounded in race- and religion-based discrimination.

All: And this year, too many of our fellow Jews support him. And even more have failed to actively fight the bigotry he peddles.

Reader: We have forgotten the fundamental promise we make each year at Passover. To remember. Avadim Hayinu – We were slaves in Egypt

All: We remember our histories, we acknowledge our pasts.

Reader: Atah b’nei horin – Now we are free people

All: How will we use our freedom?