Chevra, tonight is Pesach (פֶּסַח). There are several focuses on a normal year, exiting Egypt and eating Matza (the bread of affliction). At night we have a Seder and go through the story of leaving Egypt. There are traditional songs that the Haggadah (the book we use for telling the story) is sung to. One part of the Haggadah that, I at least, thought was quaint, but we had outgrown was Vehi She’Amda.

וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵיֽנוּ וְלָנֽוּ. שֶׁלֹא אֶחָד בִּלְבָד, עָמַד עָלֵיֽנוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנֽוּ. אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, עוֹמְדִים עָלֵיֽנוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנֽוּ. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיָּדָם

Vehi She’amda, La’avotainu Velanu Shelo Echad Bilvad, Amad Aleinu Lechaloteinu Ela Sheb’chol Dor VaDor Omdim Aleinu Lechaloteinu V’HaKadosh Baruch Hu Matzilenu Miyadam.

And this (Hashem’s blessings and the Torah) is what kept our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands.

(Thank you to the Chabad website for the text, transliteration and translation)

This year, more than any other I can remember, this appears to be a major focus in Israel and on college campuses around the US.

At the end of the Haggadah are a number of songs that are also sung. One of these this year, BeChetzi Halila (בחצי הלילה, in the middle of the night) is about the miracles that have happened for the Jewish People. After last week’s fireworks overnight Motze Shabbat, this is also top of mind.

Together, we thank HaShem for his protection over the thousands of years of the Jewish people and especially during the current time.

I don’t have a connection with the cloud for the chag. I wish you all a Kosher veSameach Pesach - 2024 and that all of Am Yisrael should be safe both in Eretz Yisrael and in the Diaspora.