Passover 2023

This evening, the sun will set and Passover will begin. The story of Passover, told through a Seder, is about the emancipation of the Jews, and the importance of freedom for all people. During the Seder, we raise our voices, in speech and in song, against persecution and in support of the human spirit. The story includes the ten plagues people faced: blood, frogs, bugs, wild animals, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of firstborns. A Seder is a celebration with family and friends, gathered for a fine meal including traditional foods. But the story also respects and acknowledges the plagues, because the path to emancipation is often uphill and harsh.

Today our country suffers from our own set of plagues. While COVID is among them, we’re dealing with a myriad of different kinds of plagues. Many are not even recognized as plagues, but gun violence, white supremacy, anti-semitism and violence against the LGBTQ+ community are as dangerous as the plagues that will be acknowledged in tonight’s Seder. Strangely and sadly, on this particular day during Passover 2023, we also have a former president indicted on multiple counts, and millions of MAGA folks supporting his I-Can-Run-Rampant-And-You-Can’t-Stop-Me mindset.

As a psychologist of 20+ years and as a person of 60+ years, I’ve seen both the human capacity to cause terrible injury, and the human capacity to heal from terrible injury. Our country is at a crucial juncture. Too many have lost their moorings, swept into currents of power at the expense of decency, driven by rage rather than by common sense, caught in pack mentality and losing the ability to think as an individual. They don’t seem to realize that MAGA is another plague, causing damage not only to others, but also to themselves.

I look forward to the day when a corrupt president’s election and indictments are a chapter in our country’s history, when equality and acceptance are the norm rather than the exception, when the plague of indecency is under control. For this evening, I wish you all — every belief system, every gender identity, every sexuality, every racial heritage — a safe and happy Passover. May we join together, from our separate places, uniting against our plagues, so we can celebrate our emancipation.

Next year in Jerusalem.

Passover During Plague

We’re entering our second Passover during the coronavirus pandemic. The story of Passover, told through a Seder, is about the emancipation of the Jews, and celebrates the freedom of all people. It’s a voice against persecution, and a celebration of the human spirit. The story includes plagues: blood, frogs, bugs, wild animals, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of firstborns. That’s ten.

Today, We The People have our own cluster of plagues: the coronavirus — isolation — white supremacy — hatred and rage targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders — violence against #BlackLivesMatter — families living in such unimaginable desperation that they send their children to flood our borders — voter suppression — homelessness — poverty — educational inequality — hunger — an environment and climate that people have stretched to the point of breaking — lack of mental and physical health care — oppression and violence toward the LGBTQ+ community — sexual harassment and assault — school shootings — gun violence. That’s more than ten, and the list goes on. 

As a psychologist of 20+ years and as a person of 60+ years, I’ve witnessed the astonishing human capacity to heal from terrible injury. I’ve also seen the astonishing human capacity to cause those terrible injuries. Our country is at a crucial juncture. Too many have lost their moorings, swept up in currents of power at the expense of decency, driven by rage rather than by common sense. They don’t realize that their own corruption is another plague, causing damage not only to others, but to themselves as well.  

I look forward to the day when COVID-19 is under control, and my home can return to being a comfortable and safe place to host a Seder. Until then, I’m inviting each and all, every religion, to join together from our separate places, uniting against our plagues. 

Next Year In Jerusalem.