Pesach 5784/2024

Songs of Suffering, Conflict, Hope and Liberation

Each year, at the seder we balance the imperative to see ourselves as if we personally left Mitzrayim. We see ourselves as people who have been liberated, and as awaiting full liberation. We see ourselves as royalty and as still enslaved, all at the same time. Each year these themes might strike each of us in a different way.

This year, though, the October 7th massacre, the ensuing war, and the rising rates of overt anti-semitism in America cast intense emotions over our holidays in a collective, communal way. How we each respond, intellectually, politically, and emotionally is personal. Even as individuals, we are likely vacillating between thoughts and feelings and holding many simultaneously.

As we gather this year, we want to both acknowledge the desperation of this historic moment, and embrace and nurture the joy and hope inherent in Pesach, z'man cherutenu, the time of our freedom.

Since October 7th, Israeli artists have released new songs responding to the tragedy, helping people channel, lean into and release the deep emotions of this moment, and connect with others around them. Other songs, by Israeli artists and others, in Hebrew and in other languages, with many, few, or possibly even no words, have come to feel significant in new ways.

Our Pesach seders are always full of singing, with traditional songs that connect us to the themes of the holiday, remind us of the bitterness of slavery and the glory and gratitude of freedom, of the Jewish people's history of struggles and oppression and our victories and values.

The Torah tells us that when the Israelites crossed the sea to freedom, Moses and Miriam led the people in song and dance. The midrash expresses ambivilance about victory songs, acknowledging the need to celebrate and come together in relief, and balancing it with compassion and grief for the suffering of other human beings, even the enemy.

In times of challenge and uncertainty, we need an array of different kinds of songs.

An invitation to share your song:

This year, in preparation for our family seder, we invite you to share a song that feels meaningful to you this year, that connects you both to this historic moment and to the themes of Pesach, freedom, rebirth, springtime, rising from degradation to exaltation. At the seder, we'll come into conversation and relationship around the songs that express our swirling thoughts and emotions, hopefully reaching together for a measure of redemption and freedom.

Here's what we need from you

Come back to this page between now and the seder to see and hear the songs
Think of a song that connects this year with the themes of Pesach and send me (Shira):
- The name of the song and the artist
- A link to youtube, spotify or somewhere the song can be accessed (if possible)
- The lyrics, (if you can) and
- If the lyrics are not in English, if you have a translation you like, send it (don't worry if you don't have one)
Your song might be intentionally about Pesach or Oct 7 or might not have been written with any of that in mind
Your song might have words in Hebrew, or English, or another language or no words at all

The Seder Details

The Sedarim will be on Monday night April 22 and Tuesday Night April 23rd.

We hope you can be here in person, and we will have a video-conference open for those who want to join from afar.

Important logistical details:

We'll plan to start the Sedarim about 5:30 pm both nights so that we don't get too hungry before dinner or fall asleep before we're done
Bedikat Chametz will be on Sunday night April 21st
We will burn the Chametz on Monday morning April 22 at about 11am
We are asking everyone to take a covid test before arriving
Please be extra infection-cautious before coming. Mask in crowds and protect yourselves in whichever other ways are in your wheelhouse.
Please let us know when you know your travel plans.
Please let us know if what you eat and don't eat has changed, or if there is anything else you want us to be aware of.

Poems

Use this link to sign up to introduce a step of the seder with a poem. This year you get to choose the poetic form.

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