One of my most vivid memories growing up, one I think about around this time, is being surrounded by family, sitting around my grandparents' dining room table as my grandfather led the Passover Seder. I don’t remember much about those seders or where my grandfather hid the afikomen (although it was either under his plate or tucked into the back of his pants because that’s where it always was), but being together with family made the holiday that much more special.

It is for this reason, I believe, that it is no surprise that survey after survey continues to show that Passover is the most celebrated holiday for Jews. This holiday is deeply rooted in our tradition and epitomizes who we are as a people and where we came from. It includes a celebratory meal where we are encouraged to open our homes to family and friends, as well as to strangers. It is my favorite Jewish holiday, and I am excited for it to begin at sundown tomorrow night.

This year, as I have prepared to celebrate Passover, the idea of what Egypt represents and the plight of our ancestors keeps creeping into my mind.

As you may know, the Hebrew word for Egypt is mitzrayim. It also means “a narrow place.” With everything going on around us right now—antisemitism and hate, increasing anti-Israel sentiment after the US-led war against Iran, societal divisiveness, and other issues—it definitely feels like we are in a very “narrow place” right now.

But this is not a new phenomenon for the Jewish community, as we have been in similar spaces before. Take, for instance, what transpired on this day in 1492 in Spain. It was on this day that Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon issued the Alhambra Decree expelling Jews from their kingdoms unless they were willing to convert to Christianity. The goal of this action was to prevent Jews from influencing their brethren who had previously converted and encouraging them to return to Judaism. Ultimately, this also led to the Spanish Inquisition  and the horrors that surrounded it. And yet, we, collectively, were able to arrive “on the other side.”

There is no denying that we are living in very challenging times. And yet, we have been here before. In fact, King Solomon, considered one of the wisest and smartest of our ancestors, is said to have worn a ring with three Jewish letters, ‘gimmel’, ‘zayen’, and ‘yud’; an abbreviation for three words “Gam Zeh Yaavor” – this too shall pass.  

I hope you keep this idea in mind as we commemorate our exodus from Egypt again this year.

On behalf of our Jewish Federation’s Board of Governors and Staff, may your experience of Passover this year be a meaningful and fulfilling one. May we all embrace the spirit of renewal and find peace and freedom in the days ahead. Chag Pesach Sameach!