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Mother of Exiles Emma Lazarus, a New York poet and the descendant of Jewish immigrants, had spent her life writing about antiSemitism and ethnic prejudice, and in the 1880s became a fierce advocate for Jewish refugees fleeing massacre in Russia. Her sonnet, “The New Colossus,” reflected that conviction. The New Colossus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch,...

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Ha Lachma Anya We are now ready to begin the story telling part of the Seder. We start by reciting Ha Lachma Anya, which reminds us of the importance of social responsibility and freedom. We invite whoever is hungry to eat with us, And we invite whoever is in need to join in our celebration, And we view ourselves as still in bonds, And we hope that next year brings freedom to everyone. Ha lachma anya dee achalu avhatana b'ara d'meetzrayeem....

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Miriam’s Cup On the table is a cup filled with water known as Miriam’s Cup, in honor of the prophetess Miriam. We place Miriam's Cup on our Seder table to honor the important role of Jewish women in our tradition, our history, and our lives. But why do we fill Miriam's cup with water and not wine? We fill Miriam’s Cup with water to symbolize Miriam’s Well, the source of water for the Jews during their journey through the desert. God...

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Dayenu God did many wonderful things for the Jews. He brought us out of Egypt, gave us the Shabbat, gave us the Torah, and brought us into the land of Israel. Any one of these acts would have been enough. We sing Dayenu, which means "it would have been enough," to show our gratefulness for all that God has done for the Jewish people. If God had brought us out of Egypt … It would have been enough If God had...

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Who is Your Liberator? During troubled times we must look to raise ourselves up. Whether Jews in slavery in Egypt, whether barely living—surrounded by death—in a concentration camp, whether discriminated against because of race, religion, gender, or sexual preference, whether trapped by one’s own anxiety and depression, during the darkest times of our lives we must raise ourselves up. But we not need do this on our own. When struggling, look to family and friends for help. “Happiness can be found...

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Blackbird – A Passover Lesson from the Beatles In 1968, Paul McCartney introduced us to a new song; “Blackbird.” McCartney would later explain that “Blackbird” was not about a bird but instead it was about racial inequality in the United States. McCartney said, “[Blackbird] was really a song from me to a black woman, experiencing these problems in the States: ‘Let me encourage you to keep trying, to keep your faith; there is hope.’” On Passover we encourage everyone to keep...

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From Generation to Generation - Exodus, Holocaust, and 9-11 Tonight, along with Jews throughout the world, we sit down to begin our Seder. We tell a story that has been repeated year after year for over 3,000 years.  The story of the Exodus from Egypt reminds us of the hardships and bitterness that our ancestors endured while slaves in Egypt. The Exodus also celebrates freedom. Not only is it important to tell this story on Passover, but the Torah also commands...

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The Struggle Continues The struggle for freedom is constant. In every age, new freedoms are won. Yet each age also creates more Pharaohs. We must work towards a time when everyone will be free from oppression. On this Seder night, we recall, with anguish and with love, the six million Jews of Europe, who were destroyed at the hands of a modern-day Pharaoh; one far worse than Pharaoh of Egypt. Their memory must never be forgotten. The atrocities of the Holocaust...