Zev Mishell is a writer and graduate student at Harvard Divinity School.
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This Passover, I’m Reflecting on Jewish Liberation Theology
Jewish organizations advocating a ceasefire in Gaza and Palestinian freedom host a Passover Seder on the U.S. Capitol lawn, Washington, D.C., April 30, 2024. Credit: Allison Bailey via Reuters Connect.
What does it mean to celebrate Passover during a time of rising authoritarianism, climate crisis, and genocide? Every year, Jews mark Passover by reading the Haggadah and by refraining from eating leavened bread for eight days in commemoration of the ancient Israelites’ hurried trip out of Egypt. The Exodus story tells of their journey from slavery to freedom, and each year Jews are commanded to experience this ritual anew, imagining that God is setting them free as if in the days of old.
But as the yearly calendar brings us to a holiday celebrating divine redemption and freedom, it’s hard to avoid the despair of this historical moment.