“Mitzrayim” - in Hebrew, this word means Egypt, but in a more literal sense it translates to “narrow place”. Throughout this past semester, the three of us investigated the idea of a narrow place, of a place of hardship, injustice and oppression, a place from which liberation is needed. We have discussed at great length what this narrow place is today, in our country. For we are reminded in the Mishkan Tefila that we are eternally in Egypt and must continually work together in the pursuit of justice, freedom and peace for all.

Indeed, we are experiencing this mitzrayim in modern times. When children are separated from their parents at the border, when police brutality remains a scourge in our communities, when those of all different faiths are victims to white nationalist terrorism in the form of shootings at mosques and synagogues, when the legislatures in our own state of Ohio are constantly attempting to restrict access to safe reproductive healthcare, we are indeed, still in a narrow place.

It was through these discussions that we decided to compile a Haggadah exploring themes of social justice and civil rights which could be read at a multigenerational and interfaith Seder around the time of Passover. We created this Haggadah under the guidance of Rabbi Thomashow, and together planned this Civil Rights Seder. We have surveyed many different Haggadot with themes of identity and civil rights and pulled sections from each to include in our own Haggadah. We also have written some of the sections ourselves.

One element that we have added the social justice Seder plate, which we have in addition to the traditional Seder plate. On this plate each item is connected to an important justice issue: the orange (LGBTQ+ rights), fair trade chocolate (supporting fair labor), the banana (modern refugees), the pine cone (reducing mass incarceration), the cashews (veteran and military support), the blueberry (disability rights), and the pineapple (African American rights).

We are so excited to share this Haggadah, and we hope it moves you to join the great work of moving from a narrow place, from our modern mitzrayim, towards the promise of freedom for all.

Sincerely, Bettina Ernst, Abby Rosenberg, And Maya Goldenberg


haggadah Section: Introduction