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The Passover Seder is filled with moments of celebration and joy, both as texts in the Haggadah as well as conversation at the table. At least it is supposed to be.  Many will feel the diminished element very strongly not merely by removing one drop of wine for each of the Ten Plagues as we are to lessen our joy, but by the empty chair that symbolizes day 200 of captivity of the hostages. The world may have forgotten them, as they have become cynical pawns in Hamas’ desperation to remain in control, but we, their brothers and sisters around the world, have not forgotten them, and will not. Just a few days ago, in the Schenley Park triangle, a Seder table was set for them. An empty chair with a tallit draped over it sits alone in the first seat in the front row in our sanctuary, bearing witness to this inexcusable atrocity. I shared a very moving rewriting of the Aramaic text, Ha Lachma Anya, this bread of affliction, wondering what bread of affliction they eat while in captivity.

While the basic elements of the Seder were established by the end of the 2nd Century, new elements continued to be added, most likely in response to events of the day.  One has to wonder what would inspire someone to add the following: “For not just one enemy has arisen to destroy us; rather in every generation there are those who seek our destruction…” Truer words could not have been spoken over the millennia, and this text has been quoted rather extensively since October 7, as enemies at home ( North Shore just a few days ago) and abroad do indeed seek our destruction.  Yet the text is not meant to be mournful.  Instead, we are to lift our cup of wine in thanksgiving to God, as this small paragraph concludes with “…but the Holy One, praised be He, saves us from their hands.” The author had tremendous faith in the saving grace of God.

That hope reached its apex with the addition of an invitation to Elijah to our Seder. We even go so far as to physically open the door for him and pour wine into a special goblet set aside for him.  Elijah’s presence was as a harbinger of the coming of the Messiah, when peace would rule the earth, and especially for the Jewish communities throughout the land, they would be safe. This element of fear became profound with the introduction of blood libel into the psyche of the gentiles.  The Jewish counter to this period of angst was the following: “Pour out Your wrath upon those who do not know You and upon the governments which do not call upon Your name. For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his dwelling place. Pour out Your fury upon them, let the fierceness of Your anger overtake them. Pursue them in indignation and destroy them from under the heavens.” What a cry this is from us seeking Divine intervention, as I am confident that many literally yelled this from their tables amid tears this year. How tragic it is that a text written presumably in the Middle Ages resonated so profoundly this year. It reminds us, sadly, that there are texts that are timeless yet timely.

Ultimately, for me, the most powerful was merely reciting Dayenu. While the listing of the miraculous deeds of the Holy One are boundless, and that we are beyond meriting such a lengthy list, and each is recited with joy, my joy was lessened. The Haggadah translates Dayenu as “it would have been enough”, I offer a different translation: Enough Already! Enough of the antisemitism. Release the hostages; it’s enough already. It’s enough already that you H us; when will you love your children more than you H us(to rephrase Golda Meir)? Enough anti-Israel resolutions in the United Nations. Let us live our lives in peace and joy, just as you should want to live your lives. Dayenu!