April 11, 2025
Upon their release from captivity, Liri Albag and Agam Berger shared the stories of how they kept their faith through captivity. Berger shared that it was particularly challenging to keep Passover because there was no access to Matzah. Berger insisted that they bring her cornmeal and dates. Berger and Albag, who were held for the majority of the time by Gazan civilians, drew a Haggadah. Liri made decorations for the table. Berger reflected that she took on Psalm 119:30 as her motto, “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.” For Berger, the prayerbooks and texts she convinced her captors to bring to her, along with her study of Torah, and refusal to light fire on shabbat were a way of defiance. Like so many times before in our history, Berger’s faith kept her alive. To have the ability to choose faith is a way of expressing power in a time of powerlessness. Berger was surprised that they respected her desire to keep her faith.
For eighteen months, there have been hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. We know that about two dozen are still living, and we are longing for them to come home. As the seder concludes this year, as it does every year, we will sing “L’shana haba-ah biYerushalayim. Next year in Jerusalem.” The hostages who were held captive know what it is like to long to return home. On the seder night when we break the bread of affliction, we know that our people are deeply broken. Without these 59 hostages, it is as if we have lost a limb. We long for them to return home and we say to the tyrants holding them hostage the same words Moses said to Pharaoh, Let my people go! It is incumbent upon all those who have power to do what they can to bring our people home.
It is hard to believe that I was in Jerusalem just over 10 months ago with fellow Beth Tikvah members. The need to feel connected to our people is strong. We are drawn closer to the pain and the trauma they live each day. Jeffrey Goldberg in The New American Haggadah, writes that the phrase Next Year in Jerusalem, is actually a repudiation of the Wicked Son who separated himself from his people. The idea that we long for Jerusalem is to say, we will not abandon our people. He notes that in Israel, they long for Next year in a rebuilt Jerusalem. They understand that in every generation there is profound brokenness, and with this expression, we hope to heal the wounds. For us, Next Year in Jerusalem certainly means that the hostages will be home, and we will once again have days of peace.
There is more, however. Next Year in Jerusalem will mean that I will hold Israel in my heart as I go to www.zionistelection.org and cast my vote for the Reform Slate. With that vote, I work to heal the brokenness by voting to ensure that the Israeli government allocates enough resources for Reform Judaism, egalitarian efforts, and LGBTQ+ people in Israel. If you have not yet voted, please vote today!
Next year in Jerusalem could also be literal. If you have yet to sign up for the Columbus Jewish Community mission for this October, there is still space available. Next year, in the Jewish calendar, you could physically be in Jerusalem with the Columbus Jewish community. If you are interested in traveling to Israel, this will be an incredible opportunity to bear witness to the atrocities of October 7th, volunteer, experience Shabbat in Jerusalem, and more. Please feel free to reach out to me, or I can put you in touch with Andy and Liz Shafran who are serving on the host committee. The information about the trip is below.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and a Chag kasher v’sameach,
Rabbi Rick Kellner