Rabbi Rena Arshinoff, Baycrest

This year the Passover seder will invoke profound reflection as we recite “Why is this night different from all other nights?” In a broader context: “why is this Passover different from all others?” Try as we do to feel the joy in our holiday of freedom, there is a pervasive sadness this year as we are separated from one another. Passover is a time for celebration and being together as we rejoice in our history and tradition. The Hagaddah says “we were slaves to Pharaoh”. What about modern day metaphoric “slavery”? We are all slaves to something – we each experience personal challenges.

This year we live globally with the modern plague of Covid-19 and as we do, for some the slavery is fear; for others hunger; for others loneliness; and indeed for some, it is illness. Our seder reminds us of plagues and to do something – “let all who are hungry come and eat”. But what will happen when our virtual seders are finished, the holiday is over, the dishes put away until next year, and the remaining matzah made into matzah brie to finish it off? How easy it is for us to forget about those who are hungry, isolated, ill, confused, and frightened. Spiritual hunger during this Covid-19 plague is real. Such feelings are not seasonal; chesed is not centered merely on a holiday or pandemic. We are all currently frightened – reach out continually to others in the safest and most appropriate way. Chag Sameach.