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Why is it that at virtually every Passover we are still praying for the freedom of Jewish captives? When will our people ever be free?

Finally, most Jews are out of Russia. And there is no impediment to others who want to leave.

In this past year, we've seen an exodus of many Jews from Cuba. Those who departed went very quietly, so as not to call undue attention and force the pipeline to be closed.

Syria is nearly empty of Jews. As is Egypt and most of the Arab world.

With the end of communism, few Jews are locked behind iron gates.

But dictatorships still exist in countries such as Libya, Iraq and Iran. And Iran presents the greatest threat to its small Jewish population.

For a year now, 13 Iranian Jews have been facing trial, charged with spying for Israel and the United States. The "Iranian 13" could be sentenced to death.

They were to be tried, Iranian style, this week. In Iran, evidence isn't needed to convict defendants, only charges. And charges filed against Jews are accepted as fact. That's why the trial is to last only one day. The Iranian courts don't have time to listen to the Iran 13's side of the story.

The 13 are community and religious leaders from the southern cities of Shiraz and Isfahan. Both Israel and the United States have denied that these people are spies. But Iran's fundamentalist regime has diplomatic relations with neither country and won't respond to their pleas.

So when we sit down for our seders Wednesday night and we read about Pharaoh holding Jews hostage, we should remember that pharaohs still exist and that Jews are still imprisoned.

We can only pray for the day when freedom is a reality for all Jews, no matter where they live.

Happy Pesach to all.