The Exodus

Beyond the Headlines: A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news

If God is willing to conduct a dialogue with a human being and change His mind, how much more so must human beings conduct a dialogue with each other and be willing to change their minds?

In the formative process of the exodus, the Jewish people leave a land that represents the height of pride, and they journey to a land of humility.

I think that Passover in general, and its seventh day in particular, is the perfect time to appreciate “the miracles that are with us daily,” as we say in the Amidah prayer.

We all face Red Seas in one form or another. But the good news is that just as God parted the waters for our forefathers when they left Egypt, He can part them for us as well.

Surely, freedom means the overthrow of rules? Why leave one bondage merely to enter another, even if only a symbolic one?

This Passover, as we retell the story of our journey from slavery to freedom, may we be mindful of the other people seeking to experience the same journey toward freedom.

Below are excerpts from Rabbi Aryeh A. Frimer’s book, chock-full of insights aimed at providing ample food for thought and discussion at the Seder. 

Why should one see themselves as if they personally left Egypt? Because it's the essence of redemption: giving everyone, no matter his situation, the inner strength of faith, hope, joy, serenity.

Real redemption requires sacrifice: only when every Jew embraces this burden will we truly understand the slavery and freedom in the matzah and the blood and jubilation in the wine.