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Passover Lessons from Pharoah still Resonate Today
Passover is probably my favorite Jeish holiday. I love the music, the food, the story telling – everything about the Seder – especially celebrating with my family. This year as I prepare, I have been thinking about how the same fear, ignorance and hate that drove Pharoah to enslave the Hebrews who “grew too numerous” for his comfort is the same hate, ignorance and fear that is driving the horrific and alarming antisemitic violence, rhetoric and othering that we are experiencing here in Connecticut, across this country and around the world, particularly on our college and university campuses.
We are privileged at Temple B’nai Chaim to serve families from multiple towns in our area, and I am saddened to share that not one of our surrounding communities has been spared such incidents of antisemitism. Many of you have come to me to share incidents your children have experienced either as victims or witnesses to Jew
and/or Israel hatred in school. This is happening now in our own backyard in 2025, and none of us is immune.
The story of Pesach and our redemption from slavery is a fitting backdrop that reminds us of the courage and faith it took and still takes to stand up to those in power or in the majority who, out of ignorance or intolerance, will go to disgusting lengths to shun, silence and hurt those whom they don’t understand. Right now, that seems to be hyper-focused on Jews, and we must remember that an act of hate against any marginalized community serves only to sanction such action against all minorities.
So, as we gather this weekend to retell the story of the miracles that God provided to deliver us, “Mi Mitzrayim,” from the Narrow Place that was Egypt – from the constriction of slavery to the expanse of freedom – let us remember that in our world today, it is we who must speak out. It is we – each of us – who must stand up as Moses against the bigotry and hate of antisemitism. I encourage you to become involved and let your voices be heard!
And most importantly, remember as we read the Haggadah, that Passover is at its core, a festival of liberation and the journey to freedom we take together as a community. In the coming days, we can remind ourselves and our children of the history of our freedom and the importance of protecting it – the freedom to worship, to express ourselves and to live safely regardless of our faith, identity or background. This Pesach, may we treasure this freedom and continue to ensure its endurance from this generation to the next…
Wishing you all a Chag Pesach Kasher v’Sameach – a Joyous and Compassionate Passover from my family to yours
Cantor Harriet
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