A Pesach Story For Your Seder

As I sat at the seder table, leaning on my blue and white Star of David pillow. I watched flickering yellow flames reflect in the eyes of my family and friends.

I marvelled at the beauty of my vision.

Now to get their attention, I stood, cleared my throat, raised my arms toward heaven.

And so I began.

Tonight, I’m going to tell you a story about two dates —October 7th, 2023 and April 14th, 2024.

A story about a great and grateful people, a nation and their G-d.

A story thousand of years old and as new as yesterday.

A story of questions and a story of faith.

A story of great sadness and a story of great joy.

A story of the darkest evil and the goodness of light.

A story of hate and a story of love.

But first, we must praise Adonai for what he has given us.

We praise You, Adonai our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, Who has kept us alive and well so that we can celebrate this special time.

 And tonight this special time will be different than all other seders because tonight we’re going to ask you, Adonai, four questions.

Oh Lord, as our October 7th tears burn our eyes, we want to know:

How did you allow such a tragedy to befall your Tribe?

Where did you hide when the innocent were massacred?

Did your hands shield your eyes from this brutal slaughter?

When will you show us your love by providing us with a faith-restoring miracle?

G-d waited to reply, but six months later, on April 14th Hashem replied:

So you prayed for a miracle and asked me for a symbol of hope.

Well my children, look to Jerusalem’s night sky at the flashing lights, exploding like fireworks, listen to the drones of my sirens as my hands form a perfect dome over your kippahs.

Watch as I light the heavens, separating light from darkness across the City of Peace.

Marvel at the beauty of this vision.

Watch as I shield the Western Wall from destruction.

Watch as I protect those in the land of Israel, just as I protected Moses and the Israelites as they fled Egypt and crossed the Sea of Reeds.

Three hundred Iranian  rockets, drones and missiles raced toward the Holy Land and they are all destroyed before arriving on Israeli soil.

How is that for a faith-restoring miracle?

Yes, it’s a modern-day miracle that belongs in your Haggadahs.

Yes, I, Adonai, want future generations to remember how I took out my mighty hand and my outstretched arm to protect my people from rockets, missiles and drones.

And, yes this year, I, Adonai, want to hear “Dayenu” chanted at every seder table for that word alone would be enough to remind me that my great people are grateful.

Amen.