Passover allows us to see the events of these days within the broader context of thousands of years of Jewish existence. Jews celebrated Passover in the desert, after the exodus from Egypt, and during the years of struggle to conquer and hold on to the land, after entering it. They held the Seder in the Babylonian and Persian exiles, during the Hasmonean period, and after the destruction of the Second Temple.
Over the next two thousand years, the Jewish people celebrated Passover in all possible situations. During the Golden Age in Spain and during the Inquisition. During the Crusades and persecutions in Arab countries. Under the shadow of blood libels and the terrors of the Khmelnytskyi riots. In communist Russia and the terrible Holocaust.
And today, millions of Jews across the globe celebrate the same holiday and tradition – the holiday of our departure from slavery to freedom and from bondage to redemption.
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To the finish line
This view of Jewish existence has the power to elevate us above the fleeting and the momentary. And is it in our power to grasp the meaning of three thousand three hundred years? Kingdoms have risen and fallen, the world has changed countless times, things that were very troubling at a certain time have become a dim memory, and new concerns have taken their place.
Before us is a long and winding journey, advancing toward its finish line. The redemption from Egypt was the beginning of the redemption process, which will reach its perfection in the complete redemption that lies ahead of us. With the exodus from Egypt we were granted a certain amount of freedom, but true freedom will be brought to us by our righteous Messiah, the final redeemer for whom we so eagerly await.
Belief in Christ introduces a divine, supernatural element into our conceptual system. It is not content with an earthly analysis of reality and providing human solutions. The believing Jew knows that a divine redemption awaits us, which is part of a new world order and the correction of the entire world in the kingdom of God.
To see the big hand
The expectation of the Messiah does not contradict human action, and the coping with challenges through earthly means. But alongside activity in the ways of nature, the Jew knows that true redemption will come through a divine move that transcends earthly and human systems. This is the wondrous vision of the end times, which is the very soul of the Jewish faith.
The events taking place in recent years reflect the miraculous way in which God shows His great hand within processes that seem natural. But anyone with a brain understands that incomprehensible things are happening here, and all those involved in decision-making testify that the miracles that accompany us are beyond imagination.
We believe that all these miracles lead us to the complete redemption, but we must act so that it will come one day earlier. It is not enough to expect and hope, but we must do to be worthy of it. To strengthen our faith in redemption, to pray for its coming, to increase in mitzvot and good deeds. To strengthen ourselves in the love of every Jew, whoever he may be, even if it requires us to 'love freely.' And we look forward to celebrating the coming of our righteous Messiah again this Passover.
