Passover celebrates freedom, exemplified in the story of our Exodus from Egypt. That story leads our entry into Israel, though it was not a simple redemption tale. Especially not now as Israelis and Palestinians continue to fight, and shed blood in pursuit of its ownership. 

In light of that situation, some of us may have complicated feelings about identifying with Israel. Remember on this night that "Israel" doesn't only refer to the Land. "Israel" was the name given to Jacob after he spent a night wrestling with an angel of God. Therefore "the people Israel" can mean the people who take on the holy obligation of engaging with the divine, those who wrestle with meaning. 


haggadah Section: Introduction