A Pesach Wish

While I'm finishing up the heavy kashering for Pesach, I thought I'd take a break to let everyone know that this blog will be closed for Pesach to Thursday Chol Hamoed, I may squeeze in a post Saturday night/Sunday and then will be closed for Yom Tov Sheni.

But I thought I'd leave you with a Pesach wish.

Passover is the celebration of the birth, redemption and liberation of the Jewish nation. Never forget that we are not simply a religion. We are a people, a nation, with a constitution called the Torah. We have a collective memory that reaches back beyond that of Europe, America, Arabs, and Islam.

On the nights of the Seder, the ceremonial service and meal in which recount to our children the story of HaKadosh Borachu liberating us from slavery in Egypt, we recall that we ourselves were in Egypt and were freed; that we witnessed the parting of the Yam Suf, and the revelation at Sinai.

We are now witnessing an unparalleled political assault on the homeland of Jewish people being led by the chief executive of the United States. He is the new Pharaoh, whose heart is hardened against our people, and who desires nothing less than to deny us our sovereignty over our land, and our Holy City of Jerusalem.

As the hardening of the heart of the nameless Pharaoh was done so that Hashem could liberate us from bondage, and show His strength to the world, so too may we merit to see the hardening of the new Pharaoh's heart leading to our ultimate liberation by Hakadosh Borachu. And like the Pharaoh then, the new one's name will also be forgotten, meaningless in the face of who we are, where we come from, and where we are ultimately headed, B"H.

May this be the year that we see the liberation of the Jewish heart and mind from the chains of Diaspora. May this be the year of the total liberation of the Jewish soul; and the total liberation of Eretz Yisrael from the occupation of the enemies of the Jewish people, and the total liberation of Jerusalem, free from those who would seek to divide her, and cut us off from her.

As it was then, so it is now. The waters of Yam Suf would not part until Nachshon braved the waters and demonstrated the faith and trust of the Israelite nation in Hashem. We must do so again. Though our homeland is harassed, pressured, and assailed, we must continue to stand up for what we know is right against those that would strip us of our very lives.

As we read in the Haggadah each year: This year we are slaves. Next year may we be free.

I say, may next year be this year.

Have a meaningful, safe, and joyous Pesach.