By Eli Bass, Director of Jewish Life
On Monday, April 10, Hillel will engage in the age-old tradition of retelling the story of the Exodus. Throughout Jewish tradition we are told to remember our exodus from Egypt. The Israelites were enslaved with no way to break the chains of bondage.
At the end of the story, the sea parts and the Israelites escape, celebrating their emancipation from their taskmasters. This story is an ideal scenario of divine redemption. Jews are commanded to remember their individual exodus from Egypt. Imagining myself as part of the exodus is both comforting and difficult to fully relate to.
As an American, I live in a nation where we grapple with bondage and liberation every day. At Black Student Union, I see students who work to grapple with our national history of slavery and its ramification.
In the African-American community, spiritual and civil rights leaders have tied the story of Exodus to their liberation.
This week we celebrated the Latino symposium, a celebration by a community that has an incredible influence on American society. Celebrating Latino heritage is a great way to recognize our ability at Susquehanna to be a diverse and supportive community. Threats to this community includes deporting young adults to countries they have never known. It is through the Exodus story that we connect to the pain and triumph of others’ experiences.
Our LGBTQ+ community fights discrimination and deals with difficult persecution. As part of my tradition of personal liberation, I must put myself into the shoes of this community.
I also need to take a moment to recognize the liberation of the Jewish people. The United States often feels like a land deeply supportive of equality while recognizing its imperfections.
Over the last few months, we have faced some of those imperfections, including a national rise in attacks targeting the Jewish community. Recognizing moments where my community is targeted is an indicator of the necessary work that we need to commit to.
The liberation in Exodus is an example of showing an idealistic vision of the world that can be. I believe that we grow in freedom when we can advocate for people who don’t look like we do.
When I see myself as part of those who were redeemed from Egyptian bondage, this view necessitates a focus on those still experiencing bondage.
At Passover, I pray for the liberation for the Jewish people as well as people around the world who are suffering or targeted. We need to be the voice that fills the silence, advocating for justice.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Hillel Passover Seder on Monday night. I am deeply proud of student leaders preparing to share in our tradition. I hope the evening provides both an insight into Judaism and an opportunity to think about how we can be more supportive of those facing oppression.
Director’s Discussion reflects the views of an individual member of the religious field. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire university. The content of the Forum page is the responsibility of the editor in chief and the Forum editor