Passover and peace

With Passover fast approaching and conflict ever-present in the air, I thought I would share a bit of my writing that I contributed in 2024 to the first edition of Peace Haggadah. While I have not been involved at all in this year’s updated edition, my contribution remains unchanged.

I had been assigned Karpas, and as I thought about spring, growth and, of course, land, I also thought about the two peoples who have yet to find a way to coexist in that land. I do believe it can be done, but as I wrote in a blog called It is better to pick a cause than to pick a side back in 2021, they have to see themselves as partners in achieving this goal and for that, trust first needs to be built. This cannot happen while Hamas, whose existence is a threat to both Israelis and Palestinians, is still in the picture.

The Peace Haggadah, “featuring original commentary and art by Palestinians and Arabs side by side, with equal space and billing, to original commentary and art by Jews,” is not only available to the public, but is being used to accompany two online seders people can sign up for (details at bottom).

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Land, Tears, and Renewal: Reflecting on the Symbolism of Karpas in the Israeli-Palestinian Context

For Karpas, we dip a green vegetable, such as celery or parsley, into salt water. Why would we dip the earth’s vibrant produce into something so salty?

Some sources connect the greens to spring renewal. Others tie the significance of these vegetables to hope. Still others link the greens to the land and what grows from it. But then why salt water? With this, we acknowledge the bitter tears our ancestors, the Israelites, shed when they were slaves in Egypt, away from their land. The greens and salt water are paired for a reason.

And so, I think about all of this – about land, about rebirth and renewal, and about acknowledging pain and suffering. And then I think about Israelis and Palestinians today. To me, it is especially heartbreaking that in three quarters of a century, this conflict between two peoples has not been resolved.

To me it is clear: both peoples are tied to the land; neither is going anywhere; each intends to stay. At the same time, whether because of terror or because of oppression, both Israelis and Palestinians have shed tears, and each has been in pain due to actions of the other.

But how often has either side acknowledged the other side’s pain or taken responsibility for contributing to it?

A few years ago in a class at Hebrew University, I learned about the psychological toll incurred by Israelis and Palestinians living under this intractable conflict and about what it does to and means for each society as a whole, as well as to individuals. I must state that just because a conflict is at present intractable does not mean it must remain unresolved. It does not mean we must give up hope. Hope, like newly grown vegetables, can sprout, even in the Middle East.

At any rate, a few studies that we read in class stood out. One in particular stressed not only the importance of empathy for the other and of taking responsibility, but also – critically – of doing it credibly. When each side feels the other side truly sees it and hears its pain, reconciliation can take place. Without trust, this cannot happen.

This is where efforts like seders built around this Haggadah matter. Individual connections humanize, and hopefully allow us not only to hear but also to think about what we are hearing. To put ourselves in another’s place.

During the seder we retell what happened in order to relive it. We see events from a perspective and a time other than our own. Likewise, in creating this Haggadah and sharing our seder table with each other, we are embracing the same. Today.

And in dipping our green vegetable, born of the land, into the salt water reminiscent of bitter tears, we can not only understand how important the land is to both peoples but also feel each other’s pain. If we can put ourselves in each other’s place, we can find a way to want to help each other make our home here side by side.

Perhaps, this year as we dip our karpas into salty water, we can jointly find a way to share our love and reverence for the land instead of sharing tears.

(Contribution reprinted with permission from Unity is Strength and TIO blogs editor)

“Land, Tears, and Renewal: Reflecting on the Symbolism of Karpas in the Israeli-Palestinian Context,” from Peace Haggadah. Screenshot of page appears courtesy of Unity is Strenth

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More about the seders, including registration links:

The seders, being offered on April 6 at 3:30pm ET/12:30pm PT or April 20 at 1pm ET/10am PT/8pm Israel time “will include music, discussions of original commentary, and more [and were] co-developed by Unity is Strength, Federal Forum, Federation Movement, Gaza Youth Committee, and Unity Made Visible. This is the first Haggadah with original commentary by Jews and Israelis side by side and equally positioned to original commentary by Palestinians and Arabs. This year’s Peace Seder series is a collaboration among Dialogue in the Diaspora, Federal Forum, Federation Movement, Gaza Youth Committee, Influence, Middle East Peace Civic Forum (MEPCF), Mizrahi Civic Collective (MCC), Unity of Believers Initiative, Unity is Strength, Unity Made Visible, and others.”