Pesach: I see you in your struggles.

Pesach: I see you in your struggles, I hear you when you are in pain, I love you always - Love, Hashem

We have an obligation to feel as though WE were taken out of Egypt, that this is our story. 

How are we supposed to break through this barrier? To see our story in the haggadah? To see the haggadah as our story? 

I don't have the answers, but let’s see where the journey takes us.

“I am Hashem, your G-d, who took you out of the land of Egypt, the house of your bondage” (Shemos/Exodus 20:2).

Your G-d. Who took you out from the place of your struggle. 

This is how Hashem chooses to be introduced to the Jewish nation. That's at the end. We made it out. We were a free nation.

What about before? In the place of constriction, when life just felt overwhelmingly painful?

Rabbi David Fohrman in his book on Shemos describes something that really struck me.

When Egyptians sense that the Jews are a threat to them, one of the decrees was that all Jewish baby boys should be thrown into the Nile River. We may know this but one may not have thought about what that meant for the families. The babies would disappear in the water without a trace. Life would appear to go back to normal. Just the pain and grief was left. 

And when the redemption process started, what was the first plague? 

The river turned into blood. 

Hashem said I know exactly what happened to your children. I see your pain. I want you to know that I know that you are in pain. It was never hidden from me.

Hashem saw our pain then and sees our pain now. Pesach is the start of our relationship with Hashem. The moment that Hashem said, I will take care of you.

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The seder is when we delve into a hands-on experience of our story.

I heard a beautiful idea on karpas (the vegetable dipped into salt water) by XXXXXX on the Kavana app.

At this point, we have been recounting the story of our time as slaves in Egypt and its time for us to dip a vegetable into salt water. We are probably hungry and ready to get to the real food.

And yet we are asked to take a vegetable and dip it into salt water. Just enough to wet our appetites. What’s the point? 

Being present. Appreciating what we have. Right now, I have a small piece of celery/potato/parsley. It is exactly what I need in the moment. I have everything that I need. And sometimes that comes with pain. Tears. Salt water. I am here now and I know there is better to come. 

I trust that Hashem knows exactly what I need, when I need it, and in the best way for me to receive it. 

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Why do we lean to the left? How can I connect to this when that isn’t how I prefer to sit?

When we talk about the Western Wall/Wailing Wall/the Kotel in the Old City of Jerusalem, it is often mentioned that Hashem’s presence, the Shechina is there. Present. With us. Holding space. Loving.

Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen shares a thought from the Arizal. The Shechina is said to be on our left side. So when we lean to the left, it is as if we are leaning on the Shechina. Like a child being held in the arms of its parent. Feeling cared for and secure. Loved. 

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Pesach is an experience in remembering and feeling that Hashem has freed us. 

This is Hashem’s track record. Throughout the generations. Every time. 

In the beginning, middle, and end.

I am seen, cared for, and loved.

We will be saved. 

I will be freed.

• Rachel Widman