Tonight we gather together to celebrate Passover, the Jewish holiday of freedom. We have come together this evening for many reasons.

We are here because Spring is all around, the Earth is reborn, and it is a good time to celebrate with family and friends. We are here to remember the old story of the liberation of the ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt – a great struggle for freedom and dignity.

We are here as current refugees and as descendants of refugees, to recognize similarity in our peoples’ histories. We are here because the struggle for human freedom never stops. We are here to remember all people – Jews and non-Jews – who are still struggling for their freedom.

We will eat a great meal together, enjoy four glasses of wine, and tell the story of our ancestors’ liberation from slavery. We welcome our friends from other backgrounds to reflect with us on the meaning of freedom in all our lives and histories.

We will consider the blessings in our lives, we will pledge to work harder at freeing those who still suffer, and we will begin to cast off the things in our own lives that oppress us.


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: MACHAR – THE WASHINGTON CONGREGATION FOR SECULAR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM