Every year, Jews around the world gather at Passover to retell the story of our liberation, to celebrate freedom and the resilience of our ancestors.
This year, we cannot hear the story of the Israelites’ exodus without thinking of Palestinians enduring Israeli genocide today. The struggle for freedom continues today in Palestine.
We cannot look away from the bombing and rampant destruction of Gaza, or from the frightening rise in military and settler violence across the West Bank. We come to the Passover table with hopes for collective liberation, for a Jewish future beyond Zionism, and a world without apartheid, genocide, or fascism.
But many of us will be sharing the seder table with family and friends who think differently than us about what freedom and safety means. It can be difficult, heartbreaking, to try to talk about Palestine with others who continue to support Israel, regardless of its actions.
During seder, we are instructed to tell the Passover story in every generation, so that every Jew understands what it means to move out of oppression and into freedom.
We know that we cannot tell this story without talking about Palestine, even if it is challenging to those we sit beside. And we know that it is our responsibility to continue to talk about Palestine and Israel’s genocide. We can approach these conversations with compassion and respect, while grounding ourselves in our commitment to justice.
Here are four questions to guide us in talking about Palestine at the seder table.
If freedom is so valuable for us, how can we believe that other people do not deserve the same?
The Passover story is one of collective liberation – where a people who suffered oppression journeyed together toward freedom.
If we believe in freedom, how can we deny it to Palestinians who are living under apartheid and extreme violence by a so-called Jewish state?
How do we keep our hearts open to the suffering of others?
In the Passover story, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened against the Israelites at the last moment. Because of this, he orders his soldiers to chase the Israelites. But Pharaoh’s army is drowned in the Red Sea. This story shows us that refusing to care about suffering of others leads to massive loss and devastation. How can we stop ourselves from becoming hardened against the suffering of Palestinians being inflicted by Israel? How can opening our hearts to the pain of others help lead us in working towards justice?
What do you think our ancestors would say about the importance of collective liberation?
Jewish forebear Emma Lazarus wrote, “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” Jews have been organizing for labor rights, social justice, and progressive causes for generations. Jewish traditions have always valued justice and liberation for all people. What would our ancestors say about our responsibility today, both as Jews and as people living in a country that funds Israel’s genocide?
What does a just future look like, and how can we work toward it?
Every year, we tell the Passover story to reflect upon the importance of freedom, and envision together a future free from oppression. This year we can ask ourselves, what does that just future look like? For the next eight nights we will be reflecting upon our journey from oppression to freedom. How can we make sure our actions reflect our values of liberation and solidarity?
As we gather to celebrate liberation, let’s remember that we are responsible for more than just ourselves. We are part of a larger community that must hold itself accountable for the impacts of both our actions and inactions.
So, this year, at your seder table, ask these questions. Let the conversation flow. Make space for a dialogue that invites compassion, justice, and collective responsibility.
