In a bit over 24 hours we’ll be sitting at the Seder table. The night which is perhaps the most symbolic of all nights. It’s the night of all nights which comes after weeks of preparation on every level.
It’s during this night that we do everything to feel free. To feel like we’re part of the redemption of back then. We reminisce, discuss, and celebrate the fact that we left the brutal slavery of Egypt. Even more so, we are obligated to feel as though we are actually the ones leaving Egypt.
I’m sitting here and trying to wrap my head around this all. Freedom feels so distant. Rejoicing freedom feels so off, so untrue and perhaps even selfish.
How can I feel freedom while there are over 100 hostages suffering and trapped in the dark Gazan tunnels.
How can I rejoice when their mothers, fathers, siblings and friends have not had a decent nights sleep in the six months since that horrific day?
How can I rejoice when there are tens of thousands of soldiers fighting for the very basics of freedom, not knowing if they will be ambushed at any given moment?
How can I rejoice when there are hundreds of our brothers and sisters in cancer centers all across the globe.
How can I rejoice while knowing that there are so many bound and shackled in the slavery of mental illness and abuse?
How can I rejoice when there are hostages of all sorts, physical, emotional or spiritual all across the globe?
I look at the Seder table which will soon host the celebration of this special night, while looking out at the nearby window, looking out into the world of pain and slavery on every level. It just doesn’t feel right. The stark contrast, is hitting me in the face, almost making me feel guilty doing this.
Thinking and grappling, trying to figure this out, my mind wanders back to that very first Seder ever celebrated. It was actually celebrated while we were still in Egypt. We were still under the leadership of the Egyptian government. We were still enslaved. We were still hostage to the cruel and evil Egyptian regime.
So I ask, how did they celebrate freedom while still being enslaved?
How did they rejoice while being in the throes of pain and suffering?
The answer may be that it was after God appeared to them. God showed them His presence. He promised to take them out of Egypt. He promised to be their savior, their father and husband.
Feeling alone and dejected is the most awful experience but the new knowledge that there’s a God up in heaven, watching us, loving us, taking care of us was the greatest feeling of freedom.
Perhaps this year, more so than every other year, we need to look back at the source of this Seder night. We need to draw a parallel from then to now.
They were hostages and so are we.
They were deep in the darkness of slavery and pain and so are we.
They were beaten, bruised and tormented on every level and so are we-in different ways and circumstances.
Perhaps we can tune into the original Seder. Perhaps we need to look out and feel God’s hand despite being in the midst of an extremely dark time.
Perhaps this year more than ever, we need to dig just a bit deeper and realize the beauty in our nation. We as a nation can rejoice and celebrate freedom even while being in slavery. This is because we know that God is right there. But more then being up there, He’s also right here.
The fact that there were no fatalities and very minimal injury from Iran’s attack is a modern day “splitting of the sea.” Statistically, it doesn’t make sense but God isn’t just “there”, he’s also “here”.
The hundreds of miraculous stories flying around everywhere from the soldiers to survivors of the initial attack and so much more, are all living testimony of God’s presence.
We don’t see God’s hand as clearly as back then, but if we peal away the very thin barrier, we’ll see Him everywhere.
Looking back at the Seder table sitting in front of the window to the world, I do think I can celebrate freedom this year.
The freedom in knowing that God is here with us.
The freedom in knowing that we are not alone.
The freedom in knowing that despite living in the darkness of todays world, God is right beside us, steering us, guiding us and waiting for us for that special time when we can reunite as one, once again!
Never surrender 