Shalom,

This year as we celebrate the miracle of the Exodus from Egypt, we should also celebrate the miracle of Apr. 14, when 330 missiles and drones fired from Iran were almost all intercepted.

Missiles from Iran intercepted over Israel

We’ve been absorbed by war in Israel since the atrocities of Oct. 7.  It’s important to take a moment and reflect on what we’ve been through, and how we’re holding up.  The Seder is a good place for this discussion.

Here’s an alternate set of Four Questions to stimulate discussion of how our world has changed since October 7.  Go to this page of resources from Holy Blossom Temple, and click on the first link, “Why is this Year Different from All Other Years?”

Other excellent resources to spark thoughtful discussion in our Seder this year:

•  The Shalom Hartman Institute offers suggestions for discussion for each section of the Haggadah, “In Every Generation”
•  The iCenter discussion guide, “Why is this Night Different?”, contains a good section connecting the song Avadim Hayinu (We were slaves) to the hostages
• 7 Ways to Address October 7 at your Family Seder

Leave an empty chair at your Seder for the hostages – the World Zionist Organization encourages us to use an empty chair at our Seder to signify the continued absence of the 133 Israelis still in captivity.

It’s been a long 6 months.  It’s important to ask ourselves: how am I feeling?  Israeli poet Iris Eliya-Cohen imagines herself creating a file of the events since Oct. 7:

                I name the file “sorrow”

                I delete it

                Name it “October”

                Change it to “seven”

                Replace it with “chasm”

                Change: “chasms”

                Name it “hell-like”

                I name it “hope”

                I command the computer to remember

                It responds, “saving hope”

(As presented in “In Every Generation”, Shalom Hartman Institute)

To a happy and meaningful Pesach 5784

Lee Weisser, President