Seder Snapshot

“How easy it is for us to relive the days of our bondage as we sit in the warmth and comfort of our Seder.  How much harder to relieve the pain of those who live in the bitterness of slavery today.”  —Congregation Beth El, Sudbury, MA

Participants in the Seder ritual meal use the words "we" and "us" as we discuss escaping the bonds of slavery in Egypt.  Putting ourselves in this perspective is a reminder that our fates are interlocked, not only in history, but in the present as well.  Fleeing one's native land in pursuit of a better life is a story woven into the fabric of the world.  How many of us have ancestors who did just that?  Whether across the sea, across the border or through secret tunnels, our ancestors reached for a place of safety and hope.  They were not the first, nor were they the last.  The journey toward freedom, toward a better life, is part of our minds and souls and bodies.  The very food we eat comes to us as part of this journey, passed through the fingers of travelers in search of a better life.  

What can you do to help others who are on a journey toward freedom?

In what ways are you yourself on a journey?