A year ago, as we sat down for our Seders to retell the exodus from Egypt, there were 24 living hostages held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza, along with another 35 slain hostages whose bodies had not been returned for burial.
Thankfully, they are all back now.
One of the former hostages, David Cunio, in our special Passover magazine included in Wednesday’s paper, recounted to Hannah Brown the significance of what the holiday now means for him after two years in Hamas captivity.
“In the past, Passover was for me something that we celebrate because of something that happened thousands of years ago, our tradition as a people. Suddenly, freedom now takes on a different meaning – for two years, freedom was taken from me. Day by day, minute by minute, I feared for my life. I did not know whether in another five minutes I would still be alive. I could not eat when I wanted, sleep, drink, go to the bathroom, or do anything else that people take for granted... This time, I am going to celebrate the Holiday of Freedom with real meaning and from the soul,” he said.
We should all remember Cunio’s words as we sit down to our own Seders. Because, if anything, the last month has shown us that we are still fighting for our freedom.
During the last month, we’ve been at war with Iran, a war that has wounded thousands and killed more than a dozen, as well as leaving hundreds of people homeless. In addition, our fighting forces are in Lebanon battling Hezbollah.
In the last two days, a half dozen soldiers have been killed, and more wounded. We’ve run to shelters dozens of times over the last month, as Iran continues to fire ballistic missiles aimed to kill as many Israelis as possible. In the North, it’s hundreds of times, with little or no advanced warning that the rest of the country enjoys.
Still, we endure.
Passover preparations amid Iran war
The stores are packed with shoppers, the invitations to Seders have been made, and, even if they’re being held in safe rooms or shelters, the country’s citizens are bullish about carrying on with life amid the tumult.
At Jerusalem’s Yellow Submarine club on Sunday night – in a scene repeated undoubtedly at venues throughout the country over the last month – a performance by Gon Ben Ari and Salome was interrupted by a siren. So the band and the whole audience of young, spirited Israelis calmly moved the show to the underground shelter, and continued it there with rousing enthusiasm until the all-clear signal came.
Memes have been rocketing through the blogosphere, demonstrating the stoic humor after a month of war. Like the parody of the Seder staple “Dayenu,” which includes the lines “If He had given us ‘azakot’ (sirens) and not given us ‘hatra’ot’ (warnings), dayenu, (it would have been enough).”
These are the actions and strength of a people who know that their country is strong and doing the right thing by confronting those, whether in Tehran or southern Lebanon, who are striving to erase it from the face of the Earth.
A 2022 survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found that over 96% of Jewish Israelis planned to hold a Seder. We would wager a box of matzah that, even amid the anxiety and exhaustion that we face after a month of war, those numbers this year won’t have diminished by very much.
In fact, the timing of Passover arriving now is something the country desperately needs in this unstable and frightening environment. A reminder that the children of Israel have survived hardships for millennia, and we will continue to survive and thrive.
The Seder this year is the equivalent of a big hug – an embrace that includes family, familiar food eaten only once a year, and the rituals and songs that connect us to the past and to each other. This year, if there’s an alert and siren in the middle, take the lead from the vibrant youth in the Yellow Submarine bomb shelter and continue your Seder there, and, like David Cunio, embrace the real essence of freedom.
The Jerusalem Post wishes all of its readers a safe and meaningful holiday that helps nourish your resolve and fills you with gratitude for living in a country that stands up to challenge after challenge with such fortitude and determination. Together, we won’t only endure, but we’ll prevail.