On that day tell your child, ‘I do this because of what the Eternal did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
This is not just an empty verse we will read in the Haggadah; it is an obligation we all carry to bring contemporary meaning and relevance into the Seder. When I was a teenager, we brought the plight of Jewish refuseniks leaving the USSR. A few years later, we described Operation Moses and Solomon bringing Ethiopian and Yemeni Jews to Israel. All of these acts of contemporary liberation added to our understanding of the Seder story.
Now similarly, we must bring the suffering of Israel and the Palestinians to our Seder. We will not be alone. Many, many Jews and many of those in Israel will bring this to their tables. They will bring the plight of the remaining hostages and of their families still waiting and mourning them. They will also bring the terrible challenge of the story of liberation at our Seder tables whilst Palestinians experience such oppression and lack of freedom in their homes in Israel and West Bank. ‘Liberty is at the heart of the Jewish story,’ says Rabbi Avi Dabush, ‘not just freedom but breaking the cycle of suffering. If those around you are not free, you remain enslaved. If you use your power to enslave others, you will no longer be free.’
I find these words poignant and powerful this year because having seen it for myself, I know it to be true. When I was in Israel in February, we visited so much in the country, beginning in the South where I saw the Nova festival site. We said Kaddish amongst the red anemones that have spontaneously grown there in this place of brutality and murder. We sat with rabbis in Kibbutz Nirim. I attended Havdalah in Hostage Square and felt an important witness at each of these moments.
A group of us were taken to the West Bank with 10 other British rabbis and 4 Israeli rabbis and educators. That day, being shown the terrain of the Southern Hebron Hills and in particular, one destroyed Palestinian village of Zanuta, we were attacked by a settler. Not just shouted at, but physically attacked and threatened. He drove his truck with purpose towards us as we scrambled higher and higher, unable to escape from his forceful 4×4 vehicle, until we calmly edged past him to the bus, terrified by his presence. He spat at our driver, damaged the car of one of the educators and attempted to drive our little bus off the road once we’d managed, shaking, to clamber back on safely. There was aggression and intent to harm and we all saw it clearly. If this group was demonstrably Jewish to us, then how much more so to others?
We saw it later in Hebron when Jewish children attacked Muslim women walking down the street, whilst the inexperienced soldiers did little to protect them. Then the children turned on us too and no-one stopped them.
As concerned and loving Jews, we have an obligation to support colleagues on the ground and raise up their voices both at Seder and beyond. Liberation is a potent idea this year in so many ways.
Monday 7th 7-8pm online and Shabbat 12th April I will bring writings, resources and pieces to brighten and deepen your Seder.
There is something we can do to support Israel and its values.
Support Progressive Judaism and our vision of Israel as a democratic, pluralistic state face historic challenges. Ultra-Orthodox rabbis and extreme politicians control key levers of power and aim to relegate non-Orthodox Jews, women, LGBTQ+ Israelis, and ethnic minorities to secondary status. We have a vote that directly impacts resources and funding for Israeli Reform synagogues, rabbis, values, and advocacy. This video (click here to watch) is a great but utterly terrifying example of why our campaign matters so much.
What is it? The World Zionist Congress election happens every 5 years. This year in the UK, it is coming down to a real vote, where each of us will need to cast an electronic ballot.
How urgent is it? 8 April – 13 May is the registration period. Anyone who is going to vote has to register at this time. The vote itself is 9-16 June but it will be won or lost in the 8 April – 13 May registration period.
Where’s the link? We don’t have it yet!!! As soon as we have the destination for registrations, we’ll share it. David Rigal () is our captain and will be happy to help register folk from 8th April to 13th May both before services and you can email him.
Why is it important? Progressive Judaism in Israel, Pluralism, Democracy, Equity, Security, Justice, a path to Peace, is very much at risk. There are billions of dollars in the balance and if we don’t take our rightful share of the votes and resources, they will go to those who actively work to oppose our members’ rights, our movement’s presence, and the values that animate many of our Zionism. In the UK election the joint Reform, Liberal and Masorti slate is called ‘OUR ISRAEL’.
Our community is having a difficult time around Israel. Is this going to make it worse? The elections are going to bring up a whole new series of conversations in our wider community, and therefore also in our shuls. Nobody HAS to vote, and even though we’d love all progressive members to vote with the movement, there are other groups running in this election if they’d like to make a different choice.
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