A Passover Message from Lou Ladinsky

Another week of “delicious” matzah to eat, a sacrifice I am more than willing to make. We should never take our freedom for granted. History has shown that freedom often comes with cost, suffering, and sacrifice, however, it is certainly something that is worth fighting for.

As we think about our personal freedom, Passover, the Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, it is especially important in meaning this year. While we can presently celebrate the liberation of about 25 hostages held by Hamas, we still pray for the remaining hostages whose families will have empty seats around the Passover Seder this year. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers as we celebrate with our own families and friends around the Seder table.

With my family spread all over the country from Delray Beach, Fla., to Brooklyn, N.Y., to Seattle, Wash., I am grateful this year to be spending the first night of Passover with close friends who have kindly opened their doors for us, and hopefully, Elijah too. I look forward to reading from the Haggadah, especially the part with the 10 plagues as everyone around the table is assigned a specific plague. What fun it is to throw all the plagues around the table at each other.

Again, it reminds us of what we must be most grateful for – Our Freedom, which we must never take for granted.

Lou Ladinsky is the Circulation Coordinator for Atlanta Jewish Times.