Each Passover, millions of people gather together with friends and families around tables like this one to celebrate the exodus from Egypt. While on other holidays, we are expected to retell the stories and histories of the night, on Pesach we must relive the liberation of the Israelites. Pesach is a call to action, to a return to our roots and the Jewish of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world. It reminds us to never cease our work to help the oppressed among us. Everyone person, whether queer or straight, trans or cis, disabled or not, Muslim or Jewish or Christian, refugee or safe at home, poor or rich, deserves to live and to have equal opportunities to make the most of their lives.

As people with varied intersecting identities, we are often asked to justify our differences. Why don't you like men? Why can't you just be a girl? Why can't you afford this? Why do you speak like that? Why don't you celebrate Christmas? Why do you look like that? Where are you really from? Why should you get special treatment?

Tonight, I invite all of you to celebrate the differences among and between us, and to come together as we remember the liberation of the Israelites from Pharoh and think about how we can liberate ourselves and others from oppression.

Hinei Ma Tov

.הִנֵּה מַה טוֹב וּמַה נָּעִים שֶׁבֶת אָחִים גַּם יַחַד

How good it is, and how pleasant, when we dwell together in unity.

Hinei ma tov umanayim shevet achim gam yachad.

Reader: As we bathe in the light of these candles, we remember all the candles we’ve lit as Jews, as LGBTQI people and allies, and as those who struggle for freedom. Shabbat candles. Yahrtzeit candles. Candles at AIDS vigils. And candles at Take Back the Night Marches.

Reader: As we share in the light of these candles, we rededicate the flame each of us carries within, that small reflection of the Creator’s light that is ours to use as a beacon in our work of tikkun olam—repairing the world.

Reader: We rededicate this small spark that we can use as a match to give light to the hopes and dreams of all people.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל  יוֹם טוֹב

Baruch Atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kideshanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu lehadlik neir shel Yom Tov. ְ

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, sovereign of the universe, who sanctifies us with commandments and commands us to kindle the festival lights.