In order for collective liberation to occur, we must all undergo a radical transformation. Oppression poisons us all with hopelessness that we must overcome and carceral thinking that we must unlearn. We are challenged to “make ourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezekiel 18:31) by embracing teshuva, repentance, a word which literally means ‘return.’ Judaism believes that each one of us has a pure soul we can return to, a secret place inside ourselves we can find our way back to, where there is plenty of room for growth. Far from stigmatizing those who did wrong and then returned to what is right, the Talmud holds that “where those who make teshuva stand, not even the completely righteous can stand.” Put differently: by putting our broken hearts back together again, we make them more whole than they ever were before.

✧ What steps can we take to transform ourselves? 

בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ שְׁכִינָה, רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵאת פְּרִי הַגָפֶן
(Fem:) Brucha at Shechinah, ru’ach ha-olam, boreyt p’ree ha-gafen.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן
(Masc:) Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, borey p’ree ha-gafen.

Blessed are You, who creates the fruits of the vine.

Lean to the left and drink the wine or grape juice.
 


haggadah Section: Bareich
Source: Min Ha-Meitzar: An Abolitionist Haggadah from the Narrow Place by Noraa Kaplan