Passover, with its ancient story of slavery and liberation, has many modern messages. Today, more and more Jews are addressing those themes around the seder table.
A story in this week’s paper tells of a new Haggadah supplement honoring battered women. Other seder additions touch on AIDS, cancer, homelessness and victims of war and political oppression.
But one doesn’t necessarily need a printed supplement to bring modern themes to the seder. Setting aside five or 10 minutes to go around the table and have attendees share their views of modern oppression is another way to spark discussion.
Ask those at your seder what they see as the top 10 plagues of today. Or the four questions that Jews on the eve of the millennium most need to ask. Or consider the song “Dayenu” in the context of what we can contribute to society — “If we had donated used clothes to a homeless shelter…dayenu.”
The Haggadah tells us we are to put ourselves in the shoes of our enslaved ancestors and consider ourselves as having been personally redeemed from slavery.
But some of us have a hard time relating to the concept of oppression, especially when we’re sitting around a table piled high with food and rejoicing in the company of family and friends.
But stop and think about it.
We all know people who have been oppressed, either by others or themselves. Certainly, at one time or another, we have all experienced what it means to be oppressed by our own limited notions of ourselves or the world.
Or maybe we have been oppressed by economic misfortune or by physical or mental illness. Broadening the definition of oppression may help us regard the Passover story with more personal connection and empathy.
The story deserves it.