Passover: A festival of freedom in a world still yearning for liberation

Rabbi Ammos Chorny

As we prepare to celebrate Passover, the Festival of Freedom, we are reminded of the timeless themes of liberation, justice and the unyielding human spirit. Each year, as we gather around the Seder table, we retell the story of the Exodus — a narrative that transcends time and geography, speaking to every generation about the struggle for dignity and the right to live as free people. This year, however, our reflections on freedom come with an acute and painful awareness. While we celebrate our historical redemption from bondage in Egypt, we cannot ignore the harsh reality that freedom remains elusive for many in our world today. From oppressed communities struggling under tyranny, to political prisoners held without justice, the story of the Exodus is not merely ancient history, it is a call to action.

For the Jewish people, this Passover carries an especially heavy weight. The tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023, brought unspeakable suffering and the anguish of those still held in captivity weighs on our collective heart.

The Torah teaches us, "You shall not oppress the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 22:21). Our own history of oppression makes us deeply sensitive to the plight of the captive and the persecuted. This year, as we declare "Next year in Jerusalem!" our voices are filled with prayers not only for spiritual redemption but for the safe return of our brothers and sisters who remain in captivity.

The Exodus reminds us that oppression, in any form, is an affront to human dignity.

Passover is more than a commemoration of the past — it is a reaffirmation of our values. Judaism holds freedom as a fundamental principle, not only as a national memory but as an enduring moral imperative. The Exodus reminds us that oppression, in any form, is an affront to human dignity. That is why we cannot turn away from those who remain shackled — whether by physical chains, oppressive regimes or the injustice of silence and inaction.

As we dip our fingers into the wine for each plague, we acknowledge that our own joy cannot be complete while others suffer. As we eat matzah, the bread of affliction, we are reminded that our redemption came only through divine intervention and human resilience. And as we open the door for Elijah, we express our faith in a future where all will be free.

May this Passover inspire us to work toward a world where the cries of the oppressed are answered, where captives are swiftly reunited with their families, and where the light of freedom shines for all. In this season of redemption, we pray fervently for the safe return of those who remain in captivity, for peace in our homeland, and for a world where liberty is not a privilege but a universal right.

Chag Pesach Sameach — May this Passover bring renewal, hope and, above all, freedom!

Rabbi Ammos Chorny serves at Beth Tikvah.