News

Food and Resilience on Passover

Author

Rabbi Melissa Simon and Liora Knizhnik

Date

April 22, 2024

On college campuses and around the world, the Jewish community is preparing for Pesach (Passover), during which we recall yetziat mitzrayim 鈥� leaving ancient Egypt, or sometimes interpreted as 鈥渁 narrow space鈥�.

There鈥檚 a common refrain that comes to mind during Passover and other Jewish holidays: 鈥淭hey tried to kill us, we survived, let鈥檚 eat!鈥�

This theme runs through Purim, during which we recall Esther鈥檚 bravery and the Jewish people鈥檚 survival through foods like hamantaschen or folares (pastries with cheese and egg), as well as Hanukkah, where we recall the Maccabees’ triumph over the ancient Greeks through foods like latkes, sufganiot (jelly doughnuts), and bimuelos (fried dough fritters).

Passover too has a story of triumph over persecution. From the bravery of the midwives Shifra and Puah defying Pharaoh鈥檚 decree to kill all first-born Jewish male infants, to Pharaoh鈥檚 daughter rescuing baby Moses from the Nile, to the courage of Moses raising his voice and declaring 鈥淟et my people go鈥� 鈥� the story of Passover is full of moments where the ancient Israelites overcome the odds, survive, and thrive 鈥� and now we eat matzah ball soup, charoset, or macaroons at our Seder meal.

It鈥檚 important to note the constant thread in all of these holidays: the resiliency of the Jewish people. Whether in Persia, ancient Jerusalem, or ancient Egypt, despite adversity, the Jewish people endure and flourish.

On college and university campuses around the world, we are facing our own serious challenges 鈥� metaphorical Pharaohs, Antiochuses, and Hamans. And just like our ancestors, Jewish college students and Hillel staff are demonstrating bravery, passion, and courage.

They are coming together for cohort learning like Kol Yisrael, a six-week course about Israel, to develop a resiliency grounded in Jewish text. They are celebrating Shabbat, engaging in the historic Jewish way of marking holy time and taking a break. They are building relationships, creating Jewish community, and developing a sense of connectedness to Jewish peoplehood.

At Hillel we are not just surviving but thriving 鈥� and eating lots of matzah ball soup, charoset, and macaroons at the hundreds of Seders that Jewish students will joyfully attend.

May we all pass through these narrow places in our lives to a space of abundance and fullness. May this be Z鈥檓an Tikvateinu, a season of our hope.

Rabbi Melissa Simon is Director of Israel Education at 黑料传送门.

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