Search Library

In a Time of Pandemic: A New Haggadah Insert from Our Common Destiny
Contributed by Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi

  • TOP HAGGADAHS FOR 2023

The Meaning of the Matzah on this Passover 2021:

(to be read before HaLachma Anya/When we hold the Matzah) 

Because tonight (once again!) we cannot join together with our extended family, friends and community in celebration. This night is different because, as we tell the story of our people from slavery to freedom from Egypt to the Promised Land, we must also tell about our own time, about our own plagues and immediate needs. 

The mystics taught us that Egypt was not only a historical place of enslavement, but as the

Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, suggests it is any state of narrowness, loneliness and fear

a person experiences — a feeling many of us, and those we love, know too well during this

COVID-19 pandemic.

The Passover story is also about our individual and collective efforts to

leave whatever narrow place we are in. This night is different because we are not only remembering and reliving our shared history, but we are deeply mindful of our current crisis, and the urgency of learning about and speaking out about the impact of this plague — and many other plagues — happening around the globe to Jews and all people.

But each of us, and every Jew around the world, though we are more physically separated than ever, is strengthened because of our shared values.

This is our shared story of suffering and freedom.

As we hold the matzah this year, whether with our families or completely alone let us recite together: e,

May we experience our connection to the story of the Jewish people;

to our values and to our shared future.

As we partake in this bread of memory and hope, may we never forget our Exodus story

and our promise to ourselves that even in our new, more limited freedom,

we will not stand by when others are suffering.

Let all who are in need, know that we are with them.

As we ready ourselves to eat this hard bread of affliction,

let us also prepare ourselves to respond to the suffering and isolation all around the globe.

May all who are suffering, whether they are sick, afraid, hungry,

suffering from domestic violence or any other plague,

know that we see you, we hear you, and we will work together to respond to you.

May all who are mourning find comfort and may we collectively find ways to console them.

May we continue to support medical personnel, as well as all service workers

who are responding with all their capacities, generosity, care and self-sacrifice.

May all who are suffering now be healed quickly;

May all who are in need, know that the Jewish people will respond with the best of ourselves.

May we find new ways to learn about each other and to learn together, even virtually.

Let us assure each other that we, the Jewish People, share a common destiny

and we will create it together.

May we look into the eyes of those around us and those who we see from afar,

and assure each other that we are mutually responsible for one another,

for the health and safety and spiritual well-being of ourselves, our families, our communities,

and for all of humanity today, just as declared when our Passover story began.

This year, we are here. We are broken apart,

but next year may we find new beginnings, a new commitment to each other,

a new wholeness, and a new common destiny.

By Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Ph.D. for www.OurCommonDestiny.org
haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: www.OurCommonDestiny.org

Featured clips


More clips from Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi