A pretty consistent theme in all of Jewishness ever, and also human life in general, is that there is always joy with pain. In honor of this infinite idea that we can’t have darkness without light, good without bad, or joy without pain, karpas always graces our Seder plate. In a traditional Seder, we use a leafy green like parsley to remind us of Spring and new life.  

We dip our parsley twice and that too has a dual meaning and nature. Both dips represent famous instances of blood in the extended Passover story. The first is when Joseph’s jealous brothers sell him into slavery in Egypt and dip his beloved coat in blood to fake his death. In the tale, this act of hatred ultimately leads to all of Jacob’s family ending up in exile as slaves in Egypt.

The second is at the climax of the Exodus story, the blood on the doorframes to urge the Angel of Death away from Jewish homes. Rabbi Yoseph Hayyim claimed that we are remembering and honoring two historic dips: the dipping of jealousy and hatred that caused the exile, and the dipping of unification that gave us the merit to be redeemed by G-d.

In this time of great uncertainty, may we not forget the jealousy and hatred that can sometimes be a part of life. But may we also remember the actions of us all to unify in this time by not physically unifying. May we remember those who have struggled before us. May we shout out the names of those who have fought for justice and peace. As we read out names now, we encourage you to think of other Jewish ancestors or movement ancestors and please, feel free to share them in the chat.

For Ernestine Rose a Polish immigrant who along with Susan B Anthony was a founder of the Women’s Right Movement. 

For Clara Lemlich who led 20,000 mostly Yiddish garment workers from a fire to a Union 

For Arkadi Kremer, Mikhail Liber, Vladimir Medem and all the members of the General Jewish Labour Bund who fought anti-semitism in Tsarist Russia, resisted assimilation, and championed doikayt and nationhood without statehood. 

For Rosa Luxemburg who helped spread liberation across Europe, whose writings help define what freedom is today, and who gave her life to spreading revolution.  

For Niuta Teitelboim the Polish Communist, who used her blonde privilege to foil Nazi plans and assassinate an important Gestapo officer. 

For Rosa Robota who helped lead the 1944 uprising in the Aushcwitz-Birkenau death camp

For Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner who, along with James Chaney, were murdered by the KKK during Freedom Summer for fighting for Civil Rights. 

For Alvah Bessie, Herbert Biberman, Lester Cole, John Howard Lawson, Albert Maltz, Samuel Ornitz, and all the members of the Hollywood 10 who resisted McCarthyism and fought for our freedom of speech and are the reason many of us can openly belong to Leftist organizations today. 

We honor your struggle.

We celebrate the freedoms you granted us. 

We take up your mantel. Tikkun Olam. 

We raise a glass knowing we stand on the shoulders of giants. 

L’Chaim. 


haggadah Section: Karpas