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Baruch Cohen-Pesah, celebriamo libertà e vittoria ! 10/04/2009 CIJR- Canada

THE FESTIVAL OF FREEDOM & VICTORY! Baruch Cohen In loving memory of Malca z"l "Passover night is the national night of Judaism, an affirmation of national continuity."--Elie Wiesel Historically, the spirit of Passover has played a glorious role in the struggle for human dignity. The eternal quest for human freedom has received sustenance and encouragement from the story of liberation from Egyptian slavery several millennia ago. For we Jews, Passover marks our birth as a free people, and its exalted theme--freedom--has marked the development of the modern world. The idea that freedom must be won and re-won in every generation and by each individual is an integral part of our daily prayers. Every person, in every generation, must regard himself or herself as having been personally freed from Egypt . This identification of the Jewish religion with the struggle for freedom has given our people the strength, the power, and the will to live. Like an unfinished play, the night of the Exodus continues through the centuries, perpetually seeking actors to relive it and to grasp its essential meanings. The  key idea expressed in the Passover story is the certainty of freedom. With the Exodus, a new age has dawned for humanity: redemption from misery and oppression. If the Exodus had not taken place, the historical destiny of humanity would have  followed another course. Neither my father, nor I, nor my children would be free. We would still remain slaves forever! The Passover expresses the universal and indivisible quality of liberty, of freedom. In the Jewish tradition, the deliverance from Egypt is important because it paved the way to Sinai--that is, to Israel 's voluntary acceptance of its unique, special and distinctive mission. The Passover, as told in the Haggadah, recounts how the  people of Israel moved from slavery to freedom, from darkness into light, and from the ignorance and shame of idolatry to the consciousness and glory of its higher  calling. The Passover festival has two basic messages whose poignancy and significance remain true in modern times. The first is that deliverance from bondage and suffering, and the decision to do away with ignorance, lies primarily in our hands. The second message is that deliverance is continual: for all generations of Israel for all time. The echo of the Exodus resonates forever. We have triumphed over degradation and suffering. We learn from our history and gain the confidence to carry on our struggle against our old and our present enemies. And we have achieved a major victory: the restoration of our beloved State of Israel .Today, Passover's legacy sustains the Jewish people in its continued struggles. Passover makes us one with the heroic people of the State of Israel, and united in our shared fight against terrorism, the Iranian nuclear threat, and the rising tide of a new, ugly global antisemitism. The democratic struggle for human dignity--for all people--expresses the spirit of Passover. The idea that underlies the feast of Passover is noble and humane: freedom, liberty and decency for all G-d's children! Chag Pesach Sameach to the entire House of Israel, and to all people of goodwill! (Baruch Cohen is Research Chairman of CIJR.)