"In Every Generation They Rise Up To Destroy Us"
This is the refrain we mention in the middle of the Passover Seder, as we raise our glass of wine, and remember that the story of persecution of the Jewish in Egypt and their ultimate liberation, was not a onetime event in history, but rather one that has been repeated throughout our history again and again.
Long before Israel ever became a state, when Jews were scattered all over the world, antisemitism in its many ugly forms, caused massacres, lynches, pogroms, expulsions, the Holocaust and so much more.
In the 1920's and the 1930's the graffiti on the walls of Europe, was “Jews go to Palestine”... now the same walls have "Jews get out of Palestine" and you have the leaders of the axis of evil calling for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.
My synagogue growing up was full of people who had lost loved ones at the hands of the Nazis, Communists and others simply because they were Jewish. This included the gentleman on my right, who lost his father at a young age, when he was arrested and shot, for the crime of doing circumcisions on Jewish children and another man who would expose the number etched on his arm from Auschwitz as he rolled up his sleeve to lay Tefillin each day, and so many more, each with their own story.
Some of my own ancestors fled Russia in the days after a pogrom struck their city, and came to London to build a new life, which was indeed much better than before, but not perfect.
Yes, I was even beaten to the ground multiple times as a kid and teenager, while growing up in London, not to include the thrown bottles, rocks and hundreds of verbal assaults we would endure, simply because I was walking down the street and I was Jewish.
I think of the firsthand stories of persecution for being Jewish that I have heard from so many people in our Chabad Center with what they went through in the former Soviet Union, Nazi Europe, Egypt, Iran and elsewhere or of my friend, Adi, and so many others murdered on Oct 7th for being Jewish.
At the Seder, we remember these stories of the past and so many other stories that have happened throughout history until today. As we do so, we remember all of those who didn't make it out of these tragedies and who suffered so much. This year we will also be thinking and praying for the hostages and the current challenges as we pray for the restoration of peace and security.
Indeed it is the Bread of Affliction…. We remember the pain, feel the tears, and understand what suffering must have been like and what has been like for so many who have known what suffering is.
Yet it is also the Bread of Faith and the Holiday of our Freedom.
At the Seder we will say the prayer of Vehee SheAmda, as we remember that throughout our history, although there have been so many who have sought to harm and destroy us, yet they never succeeded, thanks to an eternal promise by G-d who has stood by our side and helped us overcome the odds again and again. Even when we were abandoned by the world powers and countries and people who were meant to represent morality and enlightenment, and when our people were going through the worst of the worst, we knew that we would come through despite them, and survive to tell the story and to truly thrive, thanks to the eternal blessing that will continue to be the story of the Jewish people.
At the Seder we also remember and are grateful for those from many other nations, who throughout the ages, have had the moral courage to use their voices to speak and act, against this malignant disease called antisemitism, including to the many who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave up their lives in the fight against bigotry, Nazism, terrorism and so many other forms of evil. This year, I will be extra thankful to those who have continued to have the moral clarity to stand by our side, even when it isn’t always very popular to do so.
As Israel faces unprecedented threats from Iran and all of the axis of evil and antisemitism raises its ugly head along with the deafening silence by so many who refuse to speak up, we are reminded of the words of this prayer that we will be saying at the Seder which concludes, “G-d will save us from their hands”, as we remember we are a part of an eternal people with a beautiful and eternal mission, and nothing in the world will ever succeed in overcoming us and what we represent.
Shelo Echad Bilvad Amad Aleinu Lechalotenu....
Not one alone rose against us.....Indeed in every generation they arise…. And they will fail….
The Seder and the words of Vehee SheAmda, remind us that freedom from evil, hate and persecution is something that will be attained no matter the odds, even if at times it becomes overwhelming. Freedom to fully live our values, traditions, and goals with joy and pride, is what this holiday is about and we know that we will get there, even if it is a little bit bumpy right now.
Hold your heads up high, be proud of who we are and what we represent, live joyously, celebrate Judaism and its values, and let us march forward and continue our mission of living lives of goodness and kindness. Ultimately we know that together with many other good people, we will transform the world, to a place of no evil and hate, and one of pure goodness, unity and compassion that truly reflects its Divine design.
Be Joyous!
Do Another Mitzvah!
Be Proud!
Am Yisrael Chai!
Next year in Jerusalem!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel