In the fabric of Jewish thought, Passover stands as the holiday of freedom, with threads that guide us towards transcendence, projection and commitment.
Judaism has celebrated Passover for more than 3,000 years. Unlike Greek and Roman conceptions of freedom that emphasized dedication to collective dominion or the ability to have one’s own rights, in Judaism, freedom is more than a set of contributions and rights; It is a constant journey towards the emancipation of the being, freeing oneself from the chains of materialism and social impositions, but without denying them.
To understand the depth of this celebration, it is crucial to understand that freedom, or “jerut” in Hebrew, etymologically implies sculpting our own essence, battling against the limitations imposed by society and our own nature. It is a leap towards authenticity, towards the full realization of being.
The Pesach ritual invites us to reflect on these ideas while sharing a simple bread, which only has flour and water, symbolizing the humility and purity of our purposes. The four glasses that we offer represent the fundamental pillars to achieve true inner freedom: the emanation of ideas, the creation of an environment conducive to action, the transformation of the environment that surrounds us and the desire to live fully and authentically.
This April 22, as the Jewish people gather to celebrate three thousand years of freedom, we remember that true emancipation goes beyond physical liberation; It is a process of self-affirmation, of rising above our self-imposed limitations and embracing our true essence.
Passover reminds us that freedom is a sacred gift that we must cherish and protect, not only in our individual lives, but also as part of an interconnected universe in constant search for transcendence and authenticity.
When we think that we are capable of assuming this freedom, Judaism takes us one step forward. Tonight is the night we ask questions; Each of us has to question four questions, open unknowns, wonder and know how to listen to others’ questions.
And if there is something that celebrates freedom in Jewish culture, it is the ability to rethink everything we have until now and everything we have been celebrating forever, because the question is the space that contributes to the unity of families, of communities, people and the universe. And if we are able to ask, we will also be able to finally and ultimately bring answers.
There will be no shortage of questions about the existing conflict in Israel and as long as we continue to open up unknowns, possibly we will find answers much sooner.
