Passover is a Jewish holiday, but it isn't just for Jews. We welcome our non-Jewish friends to our celebration of liberation. We invite you all to share this night, as we take this opportunity to celebrate our freedom and hope for the freedom of all those who suffer, wherever they may be. Again this year, as during the Exodus, we unite with the oppressed of our time:

  1. All of the land, air, and water around us which is all too often abused
  2. The Palestinian people, whose destiny is so tragically intertwined with the Jews’ - & the Israelis who are also striving for peace amidst threats of destruction
  3. All of the people seeking peace and protection throughout the Middle East
  4. The displaced peoples of Sudan and Nigeria
  5. Native American Indians and indigenous peoples of Central and South America
  6. The black and Latino populations throughout the United States of America
  7. All those who are oppressed because of their gender or sexual preference
  8. All those who are imprisoned for beliefs or practices which do others no harm
  9. And, all of us, every where, whose minds tell us to be quiet, stay small, or doubt that we are enough

The holiday of Passover and the ritual of the Seder meal is an opportunity to

think about how in our own lives we may struggle with transitions that ultimately bring us to greater freedom. Some life transitions are planned far in advance, like a new job or school year, and others, like the loss of a loved one, can occur suddenly and without any of our input. In all cases, our reality shifts. Sometimes we are able to recognize the conclusion of one reality and embrace a new one. Other times it can be incredibly difficult to be in the present moment, not spending all of our time remembering the past or imagining the future.

(Settle into a relaxed and upright position, pay attention to an inhale and an exhale, and reflect on what brought you to this particular place. Review your day, your week, your year, your life.) What miracles -maybe more subtle than burning bushes and parting seas- brought you right here, right now? (Allow time for anyone who is willing to share personal answer to this question to do so).

We gather together tonight as a family of families to remember the bondage of our ancestors, so that we, as sons and daughters, may be inspired to cherish the freedom we now have, to recognize the bondage of those who are not yet free, and to encourage our daughters and sons to help in the struggle to free all men and women.

Let all the human family sit together, and may we bring:

Freedom from bondage and freedom from oppression

Freedom from hunger and freedom from want

Freedom from hatred and freedom from fear

Freedom to think and freedom to speak

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn

Freedom to love and freedom to share

Freedom to hope and freedom to rejoice

Soon, in our days, Amen


haggadah Section: Maggid - Beginning