Dear RJ,
Passover is the Jewish holiday of liberation — when Jews remember and relive the story of the ancient Israelites leaving the slavery of Egypt in search of freedom and a new home. It is the story of how the Jewish people first became refugees.
At HIAS, our experience of Passover is shaped by the Jewish story of fleeing persecution and oppression and the stories of the refugees, asylum seekers, and forcibly displaced people we work with in the United States and more than 20 countries around the world.
Since the HIAS Haggadah was first published, the world’s refugee crisis has only continued to grow. In 2022, the total number of displaced people around the globe rose to more than 100 million for the first time in recorded history.
In the newly updated HIAS Haggadah, you’ll find stories of past and present refugee crises — asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, refugees fleeing Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and many others who were served by HIAS at some point in their refugee journey.
At your Seder, may the stories of all these brave souls and the communities they represent, help you connect the foundational Jewish story of liberation with the vital work of welcoming the stranger and protecting the refugee today. For ideas about how to incorporate the HIAS Haggadah at your Seder, you can watch the Bringing Refugee Stories to Your Seder webinar here.
Best wishes for a sweet and meaningful Passover,
Rabbi Megan Doherty
Senior Educator, Community Engagement
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