Nirtzah – Jaelyn | Passover haggadah by Roger Blonder

Search Library

As our seder comes to a close, it is crucial that we listen intently to what we, ourselves, have said. We have uttered words, we have recounted stories and recited prayers out of allegiance to tradition. Language has meaning. These words, prayers, commandments, and duties are not arbitrary: they are written with intention. They should be spoken with intention, and should be listened to. We often speak them by rote, we read them without hearing ourselves, supposedly fulfilling our duty as Jews by adhering to the order. But what next? While much can be said for tradition itself, it surely is not enough to have a seder and go on our merry ways.

I gather that, at its core, Passover is about ending exploitation and suffering. It is about asking questions and thinking critically, about “letting all who are hungry come and eat.” While we remember our slavery, we must also 1. Recognize our great privilege in our current conditions and abilities (housing, food, being able to communicate with family despite quarantine, etc.), and 2. Ask ourselves what we can do for the people, creatures, and living organisms without this same privilege. We must also recognize the irony in that we have a hand in this oppression and persecution; we often act as master, whip in hand.

Here are some tidbits and action items that come to mind. Note: I do not always love actively. (Meaning showing love through action and intention.) I often slip: I rarely volunteer, and I get overwhelmed about calling and writing letters, signing petitions, and being involved in movements. Do not let this overwhelm you – try learning more about one of these things.

COVID-19 is a disease of zoonotic origin. This means it was caused by human contact with an animal. In this case, as in SARS, Swine Flu, Ebola, and more, it was caused due to human consumption of meat. And it is not just because a human ate a snake from a meat market in China – for example, swine flu likely came from a pig in the USA. Further, the exploitation of animals, with factory farming, is at an all-time-high. And the industry is a major cause of deforestation and climate change, as well as contributing to world hunger. Yet we sit in our homes and enjoy chicken and lamb, say “let all who are hungry come and eat,” and “pray for an end to suffering.” (Note: take this in stride; I don’t mean to condemn all consumption of meat/dairy/eggs, particularly for those who need it for legitimate health reasons.) Learn about animals, climate refugees, biodiversity, and our Earth. Love them all, actively. (If you need tips on actively loving these things, I have a plethora, and my favorite thing is sharing these tips at your request. Little brings me more happiness.)
We were immigrants and refugees, and we were homeless. We came from Europe to America, and were able to get in. Consider the immigrants and refugees, trapped at the borders, desiring their own “Next Year in Jerusalem” so much so that they risk experiencing all of the horrors they’ve heard about the borders. They have fled “Egypt” and are in the desert, as the Jews were. Or are journeying across the ocean. They’re at Israel, or at Ellis Island, and not only being turned away, but being separated from one another, contracting illnesses, dying, and being subjected to horrific conditions and racism, as well as to persecution due to Islamophobia in the case of many refugees. Stand with immigrants and refugees, including climate refugees (those who have lost their homes due to irregular floods, fires, etc. in the past number of years). Learn about them. Love them, actively. And as for homeless people in our own communities, do not oppress them further by degrading them, and stand with them in the pursuit of the basic right to affordable housing. Learn about people who are homeless. Love them, actively.
As Jews, we were marginalized, and many still are. Stand with marginalized groups: Indigenous people, Black people, people identifying as LGBTQ+, those who are gender non-conforming, people who are differently abled, women, etc. Note your language, and speak with intention; language has meaning, so do not degrade. Learn about people who are different than you. Love them, actively. (Note: This also calls for a mass socio-political revolution, as marginalized people are those who suffer most from issues and inequalities in education, healthcare, the workforce, etc. Wealth distribution, healthcare reform, education reform, etc. If anything indicates that we need the government to be caring and active in our lives, that we need a government for the people, the current pandemic gives a hint. Ask me about the revolution if you want.)

haggadah Section: Nirtzah