A Passover Message from Terri Bonoff
Terri Bonoff shares her thoughts and inspiration for Passover this year.
I have come to cherish spending Tuesday mornings at Peace Love and Parsha – a JWC gathering. During this one hour class I study Torah with 20 or so other women led by our amazing and gifted spiritual leaders, and I am soothed by this meaningful time of reflection, introspection and mutual exchange of ideas and experiences. There is something powerful about engaging with the ancient texts and grasping the relevance of their teachings on everyday life. I often leave the Parsha class with new understanding and insight, committed to acting in ways that are healing and uplifting.
Participating in the Passover Seder also affords us this opportunity. As we retell the story of Passover and delve deep into its meaning we have an opportunity. Imagine Jews all over the world uniting on some common truths and commitments arising from our shared heritage.
During the Seder, as we tell the Passover story, and drip wine on our plates to symbolize the plagues, we must also reflect on the plagues of the current day that continue to be obstacles in our midst and reminders of the history that repeats itself– so rather than dwelling only on the old story, let us also call out the plagues that are afflicting us today—the evil that Hamas represents that descended on us in Israel and continues to hold loved ones hostage, the rise in antisemitism everywhere, the divisiveness that tears us apart and plays out with friends, neighbors, work colleagues and even in our own families, and then there’s intolerance, deceit, mistrust and hate. As we shout out these modern-day plagues, let us stand firm in our resolve and bring forth words of gratitude, love, respect, prayers for global peace and the SWIFT AND IMMEDIATE RETURN OF THE HOSTAGES. If Jews around the world use their Seders as an occasion to shout out the current persisting plagues and affirming what we know to be good, just and true, we open the door for miracles.
I recently lost my Mom at 91. My mother was always a glass 9/10 full kind of person. She would say things like, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”, or “Don’t come out of your room until you can put a smile on your face”. I am sorry to say I judged her harshly for those remarks as I was growing up and sometimes labeled them as shallow and her as superficial. Yet in retrospect, I think she was teaching me something important. Life is tough and there are many things happening all around us that are wrong, unfair and scary. Yet we are blessed with so much—wallowing in despair, fear or hopelessness gives our power away and does not offer the depth of respect to G-d for the multitude of blessings in this world. It is up to each of us to right wrongs when we see them, to fight injustice in our midst, but also to spread kindness and generosity of spirit. We can include our understanding of all that is wrong and unjust, mean and stingy without wearing this as a yoke around our neck. Rather we can carry the lightness of our spirit and the fullness of our hearts to meet the challenges we face. May we spread that positivity in the coming days ahead as we gather with those we love to celebrate this important Passover.
Terri Bonoff is the CEO of Jewish Family & Career Services.
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