From Darkness to Deliverance: Embracing Passover's Promise

April 2024

By Rabbi Asher Knight, Temple Beth El

As we gather around our Passover Seder tables this year, the reverberations of the war in Gaza amplify the anguish felt by so many Jewish families across Israel and the world. The void left by absent loved ones — whether killed in the conflict, serving in the military, or held captive — casts a profound emptiness that touches us all. If not directly affected, we can certainly imagine ourselves in the position of those who suffer. Additionally, the long shadow of antisemitism adds layers of somber awareness. The path to freedom and deliverance is a journey we are collectively undertaking this year.

In moments of profound darkness and uncertainty, the Passover narrative emerges with a unique resonance. Rooted in the ancient tale of liberation, it affirms the Jewish spirit’s unyielding capacity for hope and resilience. Recalling the Exodus, we see not only our ancestors’ quest for freedom but also our own contemporary struggles and dreams for safety.

This is why I encourage you to embrace the seder’s rituals and symbols, from the bitter herbs to the matzah, to the salt-water, that recall the taste and tears of history. The seder’s symbols and rituals underscore Jewish resilience, too. This year, I will be particularly mindful of the significance of Elijah’s cup and the hopeful declaration of “Next year in Jerusalem” at the Hagaddah’s conclusion. These elements symbolize both our collective aspiration for a world without strife and a longing for a future where peace prevails.

Why is this night different from all other nights? Because the Haggadah encourages us to ask: how do we attain such a vision?

The seder is an act of moral resistance. Passover urges us to go beyond symbols and prayers by asking questions that help us to consider how we will work to resist oppression. The seder asks us to support those embroiled in conflict and injustice. It’s a call towards Jewish solidarity and action, recognizing that the promise of tomorrow, the promise of freedom and redemption, is one that we make in partnership with God, step by step, supporting one another along the journey. This is precisely why Passover is a holiday meant to be celebrated in the company of family and friends — to invite people into our homes in an act of moral resistance that visions a better tomorrow. If you don’t have plans to hold or attend a Passover seder yourself, please join us at Temple Beth El.

This Passover let the current challenges not only weigh upon us but also fuel our inspiration. May the rituals and stories that have bolstered our ancestors lend us strength and hope to each of us. Celebrating Passover with one another, even amidst adversity, reaffirms our shared resolve to rise above the darkness, drawing from our rich heritage to forge a future where redemption is not just possible but imminent, led by the indomitable spirit of hope and resilience of Jewish unity.