Dear Friends,
The room was full of dozens of people, as we went through the Haggada, and shared stories, readings and melodies together. It was when we reached VeHee SheAmda, which recounts how in every generation they rise up to destroy us, yet G-d helps us overcome time and time again, that we asked Din Tesler to come and share a few words.
Over the course of four minutes, Din shared his story of survival at the Nova Fest, the lives that he saved, and the many others that he saw killed before him, and he also spoke and prayed for his best friend, Bar Kupershtein who is still a hostage, for him too to be saved from captivity along with all the other hostages.
We then sang, Vehee SheAmda together, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, and yes even lots of tears of hope, around the room as we prayed for the messages of the Seder to be realized in our own lives and in the lives of all those around us, especially for all those in the Holy Land.
The Hagadda from Germany which was 200 years old was another meaningful moment at the Seder, as we thought about all those who had used these pages and thought of their messages over the last 200 years.
Seeing the young children stand up and read the Mah Nishtana or do readings from the Hagadda, helped us all feel the power of passing our faith and traditions down from one generation to the next, in a very moving way.
Moving on from the first days of Passover, this evening we begin the home stretch of Passover, as we celebrate the 7th and 8th days of holidays, and their respective messages.
Splitting the Sea and splitting your own sea and challenges.
Moving on to thinking about a better world, the world envisioned by our holy texts, a world of no more war, of global peace, and a world filled with an awareness of unity in bettering the world for every human being, so that it reflects the master plan and design.
Please join us for the services on Saturday and Sunday (10am - 12pm), and for the Yizkor Memorial on Sunday (11am) and for the final celebration at 7pm on Sunday.
Chag Sameach & Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel
P.S A huge thank you to everyone who helped out over Passover with sponsoring dinners, delivering dinners and Passover Packages to hundreds of people, helping out at the senior programs, cooking, buying food and supplies, showing up for daily services and so much more. Many hundreds of lives were given a dose of extra Passover joy and a sense of community and belonging. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen!