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We read at the start of Exodus that the oppression and enslavement of the Israelites in the land of ancient Egypt stemmed from Pharaoh's fear that they would overwhelm the Egyptian nation. Our community is all too familiar with a telling of the Passover story that inaccurately compares ancient Egyptians to the modern day Middle East. We regularly hear the narrative that in order to be free, our ancestors needed to flee Arab lands, Arab culture, and Arab rule. In this...

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As we think about the ancient plagues, let us also keep in mind those who still live under the weight of modern plagues. A justice system that instills fear and divides communities does no justice at all: it must be independent and fair to foster an equal society. Just as the first plague of blood recalls violence and turmoil, we must take action to reform our criminal justice system so that it meets the highest ideals of society and overcomes the...

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“We still believe, or many of us do, what the Exodus first taught… First; that wherever you live, it is probably Egypt; second; that there is a better place, a world more attractive, a promised land… There is no way to get from here to there except by joining together and marching.”- MICHAEL WALZER IN EXODUS AND REVOLUTION The seder ends with a reminder that we are not yet where we want to be. There is a better place, a promised...

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On this night of doorways, the bread of our ancestors waits on our table. It is easy to think of this round flat bread as a full moon, except the moon was once part of this planet and was ripped away and the seas keep longing for it and leaping upward. The whole is already broken. The ball of the earth has its shifting tectonic plates, the skin has its pores where the air bores in. Everything whole in the world...

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Dayeinu by carrie sarah kaufman   If we have checked in with our hearts today Dayeinu If we have made a cup of tea Dayeinu If we have sent a prayer to loved ones Dayeinu If we have closed our eyes at night Dayeinu If we have given what we can Dayeinu If we have listened to a hurting friend Dayeinu If we have prepared food, or even just eaten some Dayeinu If we have committed to change Dayeinu If we have...

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 Red Sea: April 2002 This Passover, who reclines? Only the dead, their cupped hands filling slowly with the red wine of war.  We are not free. The blood on the doorposts does not protect anyone. They say that other country over there dim blue in the twilight farther than the orange stars exploding over our roofs is called peace. The bread of affliction snaps in our hands like bones, is dust in our mouths. This bitterness brings tears to our eyes....

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At every Seder, as we recite the ten plagues over Egypt we pour out a drop of wine to symbolize our sadness.  We are heartbroken that any soul had to suffer, even those who hated us, tormented us and enslaved us. And still, we sing lighthearted songs with our children about “frogs here, frogs there.” And as we enumerate the plagues we find ourselves muttering the final plague beneath our breath, not wanting to frighten our own children, not knowing what...

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by Joyce Bartlett May you find happiness in the small spaces. Joy in the staying put. No highways. No office buildings. No crowded subways. May you find peace in your own kitchen. May your four walls feel like a sanctuary. A haven from a noisy world. May you take pleasure in a bad pun, or a bowl of popcorn. Laughing with the people close to you. Patting the grateful dog. The clever cat. May you discover the delight of writing letters...

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Excerpt from "Wash Your Hands" by Dori Midnight We are humans relearning to wash our hands.  Washing our hands is an act of love Washing our hands is an act of care Washing our hands is an act that puts the hypervigilant body at ease  Washing our hands helps us return to ourselves by washing away what does not serve. Wash your hands  like you are washing the only teacup left that your great grandmother carried across the ocean, like you...

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1. Once upon a time our people went into galut, exile, in the land of Egypt. During a famine our ancestor Jacob and his family fled to Egypt where food was plentiful. His son Joseph had risen to high position in Pharaoh’s court, and our people were well-respected and well-regarded, secure in the power structure of the time. 2. Generations passed and our people remained in Egypt. In time, a new Pharaoh ascended to the throne. He found our difference threatening,...

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The Seder Plate Karpas:  Karpas represents the initial flourishing of the Israelites during the first years in Egypt. At the end of the biblical book of Genesis, Joseph moves his family to Egypt, where he becomes the second-in-command to Pharaoh. Protected by Joseph's exalted status, the family lives safely for several generations and proliferate greatly, becoming a great nation. The size of this growing population frightens the new Pharaoh, who enslaves the Israelites, lest they make war on Egypt. Even under...

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Gathered around the Seder table, we pour four cups, remembering the gift of freedom that our ancestors received centuries ago. We delight in our liberation from Pharaoh’s oppression. We drink four cups for four promises fulfilled. The first cup as God said, “I will free you from the labors of the Egyptians.” The second as God said, “And I will deliver you from their bondage.” The third as God said, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great...

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The word Seder means “order.” While order can be oppressive when it suppresses creativity and choice, order can also be a liberating source of stability. In the first chapter of Genesis, the world is fashioned out of chaos, each stage of Creation providing the foundation for the next. First light bursts out from darkness; then the waters appear, followed by trees and plants; then animals, from small to large; and finally, human beings. The organizing principle of Creation is itself a...

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Pack Nothing. Bring only your determination to serve  and your willingness to be free. Don’t wait for the bread to rise. Take nourishment for the journey,  but eat standing, be ready to move at a moment’s notice. Do not hesitate to leave your old ways behind— fear, silence, submission. Only surrender to the need  of the time— to love justice and walk humbly with your God. Do not take time to explain to the neighbors. Tell only a few trusted friends...

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Not with a strong hand And not with an outstretched arm And not with great awe And not with signs And not with wonders Rather hesitantly, with small steps, terrified by darkness Softly Dedicated Purposefully With accuracy And love Carrying little signs like the wrinkles of passing time, the transition of seasons, my changing body, the pearls of my longings. Getting out of Egypt