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Passover 5785

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Passover 5785

Passover 5785

Next Year in Jerusalem: A Modern Reflection on Jewish Freedom

Josh Edwards, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Columbia Jewish Federation

Every year at our Passover Seders, we say the same powerful words: “L’shanah haba’ah b’Yerushalayim” — “Next year in Jerusalem.” These five words have echoed across centuries and continents. For generations, they represented a dream of return, a longing for home, for peace, and for freedom.

This year, those words feel different. They feel closer.

I didn’t grow up in Columbia, but I’ve grown into my Jewish identity here. This is where I deepened my understanding of faith, community, and responsibility. My time in the U.S. military taught me about service, discipline, and protecting something bigger than yourself. But my experience here, raising a family, organizing advocacy efforts, and walking with our community through both joy and hardship, has shown me what it truly means to live freely and Jewishly.

Since October 7, 2023, we’ve all felt the weight of a changed world. The pain in Israel shook us deeply. The wave of antisemitism that followed has stirred fear and unease, even here in South Carolina. But rather than retreat, this community stood up and stood together.

One of the most powerful moments I witnessed this year was South Carolina’s Jewish Advocacy Day. Watching hundreds of Jews, allies, students, and leaders gather at the State House sent a message: we are here, we are united, and we will not be silent. That moment reminded me that “Next year in Jerusalem” isn’t just about returning to a place. It’s about reclaiming our strength, our identity, and our right to live openly and safely, wherever we are.

As a father, I carry that mission with me every day. My son is preparing for his bar mitzvah. My daughter is stepping into leadership by

volunteering at Columbia Jewish Federation events. And with another baby on the way, my wife and I often talk about the kind of Jewish world we want to pass on. One rooted in tradition, but also in justice, in courage, and in community.

And when we think about what it means to say “Next year in Jerusalem,” we also have to ask: what are we doing right now to make sure our young people feel safe and connected in their Jewish identity? That question comes into sharp focus when we look at our college campuses. At a time when students are facing antisemitism in classrooms, in social spaces, and even in silence from their peers, the role of Hillel has never been more vital. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with our Hillel students at the University of South Carolina, and I can tell you: they are brave, thoughtful, and deeply committed to carrying Jewish life forward. But they can’t do it alone.

Supporting Hillel means we are creating pockets of Jerusalem right here. Safe, sacred, joyful spaces where young Jews can explore, celebrate, and grow. These spaces matter. They are acts of resistance and hope all in one. When we invest in our students, we invest in our future.

Passover teaches us that freedom isn’t just a gift; it’s a process. The Israelites didn’t just walk out of Egypt. They walked toward something. That same journey continues for all of us. We break free from complacency, from division, from fear. We walk together toward a better future.

This year, when I say “Next year in Jerusalem,” I’ll be thinking of Jerusalem, yes, but also of Columbia. Of our neighbors. Of our shared work. Of the bridges we’re building across faiths, generations, and perspectives. And of the kind of world I hope my children and yours inherit.

Chag sameach, and thank you for being part of that journey.

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