Happy Passover from all of us at the Jewish Federation
Passover is a holiday of freedom, hope, and the journey from darkness to light. This year, against the backdrop of a painful war, the concept of freedom assumes a more profound and personal significance than ever before. For the second year in a row, many families will gather around the holiday table facing an empty chair, carrying deep sorrow, while their loved ones remain without the freedom they deserve. Our hearts are with those in captivity, and we pray fervently for their swift and safe return home.
In every generation, the Pesach story invites us to revisit the past, present, and future. Rabbi, Dr. Ari Berman, President, Yeshiva University states, "At the heart of the Seder is the act of reframing. We take the bitterness of maror and contextualize it within the sweetness of redemption."
The week following Passover we commemorate the darkest and most terrible days of the Holocaust that unfolded more than 80 years ago. The Shoah's impact and legacy remain immediate, raw, and painful. In every generation we are compelled to bear witness to its horrors, and in every generation, we are compelled to raise our voices and proclaim, "Never Again."
The entire Jewish community and all people of goodwill are warmly invited to attend a special evening to commemorate Yom HaShoah. For this special remembrance, I'm thrilled the Federation was able to secure the South Bend Civic Theater (SBCT) for our Yom HaShoah Gulfshore Playhouse performance of Remember: The Story of Abe Price. The play retells the story of Abe Price, a Holocaust survivor and former South Bend resident.
The performance is free, but you must register in advance to secure your tickets. Click here to register on our website.
Exodus like the Shoah is not just a historical event, but a timeless lesson in resilience, hope, purpose, and growth.
Happy Passover. Wishing all a meaningful chag Pesach sameach.
And I look forward to seeing you at the South Bend Civic Theatre for Remember: The Story of Abe Price on April 24th.
Moshe Kruger
Executive Director, Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley