Pesach This Year
Having recently returned from my own personal mission of support to Israel, I reflected on what it will be like to observe Pesach (Passover) in Israel this year. Or, phrased in a timely familiar cadence, why is this year different from other years?
Certainly, the events and aftermath of the October 7th pogrom have figured heavily in the minds, hearts, souls, and daily lives of many Jews the world over. In many places outside of Israel we are experiencing surges of unhinged Jew-hatred, alarmingly reminiscent of precursors to some of the worst times in our history. This will likely be felt and figured-in at s’darim (plural of seder) far and wide.
Yet in Israel, the center of it all – ‘Eternal Worldwide Jewish Headquarters,’ if you will – it will be on a different level. After all, it is the Land of Israel – the Jewish homeland, the journey’s-end of the Pesach saga – that is the locus and focus of the newfangled worldwide Jew-hatred.
The purpose of leaving Egypt was indissolubly bound with the specific destination of Israel. The Jewish story of Pesach has no purpose if it is severed from this core, if it is reinterpreted to omit or marginalize the centrality of Israel.
Yes, our story of Pesach recounts the beginnings of our history from Avraham Avinu (and Sarah Imeinu), and surely highlights the miracles, achievements, lessons, and jubilation of our leaving Egypt and slavery behind. But the story of Pesach and of the Jewish people only finds its fulfillment in then receiving the Torah at Sinai and then returning to and reinhabiting our land, the Land of Israel. All this is recounted in the words and songs of the haggadah recited and sung during the seder.
With Israel under relentless attack in word and deed by so many foes (and, as it turns out, even by some fair-weather friends), Israelis living in the destination land of the Pesach journey – the land which fulfilled the Pesach purpose – must feel now a special sense of mission and resolve. It is they who are keeping Israel alive and safe not only as the Jewish homeland for all the Jews who are already there, but also as the destination land for all Jews not yet there. This is an awesome responsibility, one that is terribly challenging and too often so very painful, yet always sacred and, hopefully, overall mostly joyous, gratifying, and rewarding.
And yes, even in – or particularly in – these circumstances, it is vital to keep in mind and observe the mitzvah of fully celebrating and reveling in the joy and the profound themes of this great Jewish holiday. As we have learned before, even in difficult times “it is a great mitzvah to be in happiness always.” Indeed, all of this comprises the magnificent Jewish experience.
May it be Your will, Adonai our God, that we not have to wait לשנה הבאה – l’shanah haba’ah – for next year, but rather now, לשנה הזאת – l’shanah hazot – for this year, that we are worthy and blessed to realize: this year our enemies are unconditionally and absolutely defeated, this year the hostages come home, this year we honor the memories of the victims of October 7th by achieving total victory, this year we treasure Israel our homeland, this year we live Jewish life as very proud Jews, and לשנה הזאת בירושלים - this year in Yerushalayim!
Chag Pesach kasher v’sameiach – a happy Pesach to all!
Rabbi Jonathan Pearl