On Passover, Jews are commanded to tell the story of the Exodus and to see ourselves as having lived through that story, so that we may better learn how to live our lives today. This is a story that has inspired communities across the world as they have searched for Freedom

The stories we tell our children shape what they believe to be possible. On Passover it is imperative that the story we tell includes the crucial role of five brave women that many Passover narratives fail to even mention by name. Tonight we will hear about Yocheved and Miriam, Moshe’s mother and sister; Shifra and Puah, the famous midwives; and Batya, the Pharaoh’s daughter.

The Book of Exodus, much like the Book of Genesis, opens in pervasive darkness, as a new Pharaoh ascends to the throne and enslaves the Jewish people out of fear. While there is much light in today’s world, there remains a disheartening darkness, inhumanity spawned by ignorance and hate. The Passover story recalls to all of us that with vision and action we can join hands with others of like mind, kindling lights along paths to a brighter future.


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story
Source: Adapted from Ginsburg and Holtzblatt's "The Heroic and Visionary Women of Passover" (2015)