I know this Passover will be different from all others. Many of us can’tphysically be with our families and the plagues feel all too real.But onething hasn’t changed: Passover is still the holiday of liberation.
Nearly six years ago, I was a soldier in the IDF fighting in Gaza. I sawbombed out medical clinics, patient charts strewn across the floor,completely deserted towns. These were the remains of people who had fled fortheir life, even as they were hospitalized.
I joined the IDF thinking that I would be fighting for my people’sliberation. But when I finished my service, I understood that I wasresponsible for the oppression of the Palestinian people.
Every year we open the seder by reading “All who are hungry, come and eat.All who are in need, come share Passover with us.” Our tradition teaches usthat celebrating our own liberation means fighting for those who have notyet tasted freedom, for we were once slaves in Egypt too. This year, in thetradition of Passover, I’m joining IfNotNow in donating part of what I wouldhave spent on travel towards medical supplies that Palestinians in Gazadesperately need in this moment.
Will you fight for liberation alongside us by donating part of your travelbudget towards Medical Aid for Palestinians? The Jewish tradition, as seenin the Haggadah, urges us to actually share our liberation feast withothers, particularly those who currently face oppression.
How can we eat while others are hungry? How can we celebrate our own freedomwithout actively fighting for freedom for all?
The Palestinians in Gaza face the COVID-19 crisis with a healthinfrastructure battered by 13 years of blockades and wars and 52 years ofoccupation. There are only 40 available ICU beds and fewer than 20 availableventilators in Gaza right now.
But where are the Jewish political and communal leaders speaking out for thepeople of Gaza on the very holiday that commands us to fight for theliberation of others? Silent. Making the responsibility of the grassroots tolead even more urgent.
That same summer I served in Gaza, in 2014, young American Jews an oceanaway came together to form IfNotNow in response to the Jewish community’ssilence as thousands of Palestinians in Gaza were killed. Once again, asGaza faces coronavirus with few resources and a health system battered by a13-year blockade, our community is silent.
The difference today is that we are ready to be the leaders we are lookingfor. While our communal leaders are silent, I’m proud to join others inIfNotNow by donating part of my Passover travel budget towards essentialmedical supplies for Palestinians.
Will you join me and other American Jews fighting for freedom and dignityfor all Israelis and Palestinians by donating what you would’ve spent onPassover travel to Medical Aid for Palestinians, a nonprofit that providesmedical supplies to Gaza?Thank you for hearing my story.
Next year, may we all be free and healthy.Wishing you a happy and healthyPassover,
Jacob
Donate to IfNotNowttps://tinyurl.com/uyrhjkc