October 7th was 196 days ago.
It has been over six months. And not a day goes by that we aren’t living the aftermath of that fateful day. Not a day goes by that we don’t think about those killed in Hamas’ attack, those killed while protecting our land, and of course the 133 hostages that are still held captive in Gaza.
A recent article in Hebrew at the Center’s April Newsletter highlights how our school has incorporated contemporary Israeli songs into our day-to-day teaching. These songs are the soundtrack of Israeli life today. One song in particular keeps replaying in my mind as we prepare for Pesach this coming week.

The song, והיא שעמדה Vehi Sheamda, performed by Yaakov Shwekey among many others is key part of our Passover Seder.
וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלָנוּ. שֶׁלֹּא אֶחָד בִּלְבַד עָמַד עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ לְכַלוֹתֵנוּ, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיָּדָם
“And this (Hashem’s blessings and the Torah) is what kept our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands.”

The words resonate. We need to look no further back than less than a week ago. Iran sent hundreds of rockets and drones toward Israel and through nothing short of a miracle, Israel and its allies were able to defend the citizens of Israel; and defend our homeland.
And yet, 133 of our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, grandparents, children, and friends remain hostages in Gaza, not able to truly see the defense of their homeland, hoping and praying that one day they will be able to return home.
Chief Rabbi David Lau composed a special prayer to be recited at our Pesach Seder before we say Vehi Sheamda. Here is the prayer:

“May it be the will of our Father in Heaven
Who brought His people Israel out from the suffering of Egypt
that He bless and save our abducted brothers and sisters,
bound with iron chains.
May He strengthen their souls and faith,
Protect them from all harm and disease,
Have mercy on His sons and daughters awaiting His salvation,
Nullify all cruel decrees from upon them.
In His great kindness, may He hasten their redemption and may they quickly emerge from darkness to light,
and from the pit of captivity to the freedom of the world,
and return in peace to their families and to their homes.
Please, plant brotherhood, peace and friendship in the hearts of all,
Remove envy and baseless hatred and spread over us the Sukkah of Your peace,
And may we merit to soon sing before You a ‘New Song.’”
As a child, we used to sing the song, “O listen, O listen, O listen, King Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go’. No, no, no, I will not let them go.” And in the end, he did. Our people were able to walk through the narrow waters into the wide-open wilderness.

It is time to let our people go. It is time to live by the words that precede the Mah Nishtana, when we recite the Ha Lachma Anya.
הָא לַחְמָא עַנְיָא דִּי אֲכָלוּ אַבְהָתָנָא בְּאַרְעָא דְמִצְרָיִם. כָּל דִכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵיכֹל, כָּל דִצְרִיךְ יֵיתֵי וְיִפְסַח. הָשַּׁתָּא הָכָא, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. הָשַּׁתָּא עַבְדֵי, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין
“This is the bread of oppression our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come in and eat; let all who are in need come and join us for the Pesach. Now we are here; next year in the land of Israel. Now – slaves; next year we shall be free.”
The Hebrew of that paragraph is 28 words. Twenty-eight is the gematria of כח Koach, strength. Let us all have the strength this year as we make our way through Pesach not to pass over the thought of our fellow Jews who are yearning to be free. Next year, may we all be together, free from threat, free to rejoice in our holidays, free to live as free people.
