A year ago, on April 8th, 2020 we experienced our Passover holiday in captivity, in the Egypt of Covid-19. We scrambled to find our way, attempting to collect the food items for the holiday meal, and then compromising and pivoting every which way to make the Seder safe – some set the table for one, some seats were filled by the few family members already in their germ pod, and some Seders met entirely on zoom. It was sad and lonely for many, and strange and different for most – but we are a resilient people and made it work.
This Saturday March 27th, 2021, when we sit down for Seder again this year, we can acknowledge that we aren’t quite out of our pandemic captivity yet, but we can be grateful for how far we’ve come, holding in our hearts those we’ve lost, and celebrating how far we’ve come together. With the vaccine piercing millions of arms, there is a light shining on the path through the wilderness. Our liberation holds the hope that we move forward together, creating a world of peace, social justice, and love.
In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”
May it be so.
