Passover, a night our people have been preparing for for thousands of years. On this night, we open our doors to welcome family and friends to our seder tables. 

On this night, we discover how single travelers can pursue a common destiny, how individuals become a people. Mitzrayim the name synonymous with Egypt, also means "narrow place". On this night we search ourselves and we explore our own narrow places. We identify and name the pharaohs that oppress our lives and our spirits. We journey from our own "mitzrayim" to a place of freedom within our souls. Each year, the seder challenges us to change our perspective.

On this night, we face the enemy within and without, and are not afraid. Tonight, we remember the words of our ancestors "You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it" (Pirkei Avot 2:21). Tonight, we give thanks to God for enabling us to tell this story again and again, bringing us back to the table with our friends and family.  


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah