With Passover beginning tomorrow, I want to wish a very happy holiday to all who celebrate.
Like most of the holidays we’ve celebrated over the past year, Passover will likely look very different for many of you. But, for those of you who have received a COVID vaccine, the upcoming seders could be the first time in a very long time that you’ve been able to gather with family members in celebration of a holiday safely.
It’s fitting, I think, that this first major holiday that some of us may spend together centers on the story of the Israelites’ struggle for freedom—the obstacles they faced and the sacrifices they made together.
After the past year of social distancing and immense loss, we slowly start to see the world reopen. Together, we have struggled through one of the most significant global challenges in modern memory. We’ve sacrificed time spent with loved ones, deferred our plans, and changed our habits, all to keep our fellow community members safe.
So I hope that, for those who observe, this Passover will also serve as a solemn reminder of our struggles over the past year and a celebration of how far we’ve come because we joined together, protected each other, and kept moving forward.
I hope that you and your families, whether in person or at a distance, can meaningfully and safely observe Passover together.
Wishing you all the best,
Mark
