Dear TEE community,

As I prepare for Passover, I keep thinking of this passage from our prayerbook:

When will redemption come?

When we grant everyone

what we claim for ourselves.

The Exodus story speaks directly to our contemporary moment, reminding us that redemption is not merely a divine gift but a human responsibility. When we extend to others—regardless of religion, nationality, or political affiliation—the same rights and dignities we claim for ourselves, we take crucial steps toward the liberation Passover promises. The journey to freedom requires us to recognize the divine image in every human being.

The Trump administration’s return to power has brought policy shifts affecting immigration, civil liberties, and international relations. These changes have sparked debates about whose voices are being heard and whose needs are prioritized. The Passover story reminds us that liberation is incomplete when it excludes the vulnerable or marginalized, challenging us to consider: Are we creating and preserving systems that offer to others the same protections and opportunities we desire for ourselves?

Meanwhile, the devastation in Gaza continues to raise painful questions about the cost of conflict and the path to peace. The Passover seder includes the spilling of drops of wine to acknowledge that freedom cannot be fully celebrated when it comes at the expense of others’ suffering. This ritual acknowledges the humanity of all involved, even adversaries. The redemptive vision of Passover suggests that lasting peace will only emerge when Israelis and Palestinians alike can recognize their shared humanity and mutual claims to security, dignity, and self-determination. It also requires that we, personally, seek to open our hearts and minds to the perspectives of others. True redemption means moving beyond cycles of violence and retaliation toward a future where both peoples can live without fear.

It can be all too easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of what is happening in our country and around the world. Our Jewish tradition, very wisely, reminds us that we are not expected to heal the world on our own, or even in our own lifetime. What is required is a willingness to do something. I encourage you to think of one thing – one area of concern, one action – that you can take to expand freedom (see the resource list below for ideas).

Judaism also recognizes the importance of community, for both impact and support. We need all our voices to be heard and we also need to know that we are not alone. In that spirit, our TEE seder will be an opportunity to renew ourselves with celebration, as well as an affirmation of our shared Jewish values.

As we gather around our seder tables this year, let us embrace the dual invitation of Passover—to celebrate our ancient liberation while actively participating in the ongoing work of redemption. The Haggadah reminds us that in every generation, each person must see themselves as having personally gone forth from Egypt. This ancient instruction calls us to both empathy and action: to feel the weight of others’ oppression as our own and to move toward a world where freedom is universal. Through our individual commitments, strengthened by our bonds as a community, we continue the sacred work begun by our ancestors. May this Passover season inspire us to transform our compassion into courage, our values into voice, and our hope into the healing our fractured world so desperately needs. Together, as we have for generations, we will continue taking steps—however small—toward the promised land of justice, dignity, and peace for all.

Rabbi Drorah Setel

Opportunities for action:

Bend the Arc Jewish Action: https://www.bendthearc.us/action

Citizen Action of New York: https://citizenactionny.org/2025-justice-agenda/

Keshet: For LGBTQ+ Equality in Jewish Life: https://www.keshetonline.org/resources-and-events/

League of Women Voters: https://www.lwv.org/

The Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement: https://rac.org/advocacy-activism

Third Act (organizing those over 60): https://thirdact.org/