Rebecca Guttman’s Message for Passover 2026

What does it mean to be a good Jew? Is it going to services each week or studying Torah? Is it showing support for Israel? Is it about respecting yourself and others? Or is it something broader, reflected in how we live each day?

This year, amid war, disagreement, and uncertainty, I’ve found myself returning to that question often. How do I move forward as a good Jewish person in a fractured world? In my own life, the mitzvot that shape my relationship with God have been a steadying force, serving as a reminder that my life has purpose. But I am part of a larger world, and I feel a responsibility each day to leave it better than I found it. That can feel daunting when the moral fabric of society feels as though it is fraying.

In moments like these, I think of the teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who described Judaism as a religion of action. It’s not only about what we believe, but how we speak, how we treat others, and how we take responsibility for the world around us. To be a good Jew, in this sense, is to act with intention: to choose kindness, to pursue justice, and to show up for others with care and integrity.

We may not always see the full path ahead. The world can feel uncertain, even dark. But Judaism reminds us that we are not without direction. Each act of goodness, each moment of compassion, each decision to act responsibly is a step forward. May we enter this Passover not with perfection, but with purpose, one thoughtful, intentional step at a time from darkness into light.

Chag Kasher V’Sameach.

Rebecca Guttman, MS, is a Program Manager for Jewish Fertility Foundation.