Dear fellow Jewish Lawyers, 

There is a reason that we recount the exodus from Egypt at least three times a day and even on Kiddush on Shabbat. It is an ever-present battle and in every generation the Passover story, which tells of the Exodus of the People of Israel in Egypt, as if we ourselves were liberated from slavery, takes on a new meaning, providing hope in a different form. 

This year the story resonates profoundly as on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists started a brutal war, killed 1200 people, and then took hundreds of hostages, with 133 Israelis and foreign nationals, babies and adults remaining captive in Gaza. This prompted an immediate surge of antisemitism across the globe and, once again, Jews feel unsafe in countries to which they have made a positive contribution for generations. We realized few will stand for us and it is up to us to take a stand.

Like many Jews and non-Jews around the world, some of our members made missions to Israel on  Israel over the last few months, helping, working bearing witness, and hearing from the hostages’ families. While we are horrified we are also hopeful. While we despair, we are also defiant. We are a people who have survived when nearly every ancient culture has fallen, this is just another movement which believes that it is novel and powerful, much like Egypt. It too will fall. 

We appreciate the freedom we enjoy, and fight for those who are not free. Below is the prayer that Rabbi David Lau wrote to be incorporated into our Seders. 

We pray that the hostages are released safe and sound.

 

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלִּפְנֵי אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיא אֶת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתַּחַת סִבְלוֹת מִצְרַיִם הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וְיִנְצֹר אֶת אַחֵינוּ וְאַחְיוֹתֵינוּ הַחֲטוּפִים הָאֲסוּרִים בְּכַבְלֵי בַּרְזֶל, יְחַזֵּק נַפְשָׁם וֶאֱמוּנָתָם, יִשְׁמְרֵם מִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה, יַחְמֹל עַל בָּנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו הַמְּצַפִּים לִישׁוּעָתוֹ, יְבַטֵּל מֵעֲלֵיהֶם כָּל גְּזֵרוֹת אַכְזָרִיּוֹת.	May it be the will of our FATHER IN HEAVEN Who brought His people Israel out from the suffering of Egypt that He bless and save our abducted brothers and sisters, bound with iron chains. May He strengthen their souls and faith, Protect them from all harm and disease, Have mercy on His sons and daughters awaiting His salvation, Nullify all cruel decrees from upon them.
בְּחַסְדּוֹ הַגָּדוֹל יָחִישׁ פְּדוּתָם וְיֵצְאוּ מְהֵרָה מֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה וּמִבּוֹר הַשְּׁבִי לְחֵרוּת עוֹלָם וְיָשׁוּבוּ לְשָׁלוֹם אֶל מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶם וְאֶל בָּתֵּיהֶם.	In His great kindness, may He hasten their redemption and may they quickly emerge from darkness to light, and from the pit of captivity to the freedom of the world, and return in peace to their families and to their homes.
אָנָּא, נֶטַע אַחֲוָה שָׁלוֹם וְרֵעוּת בְּלֵב כֻּלָּם, הָסֵר קִנְאָה וְשִׂנְאַת חִנָּם וּפְרֹס עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ וְנִזְכֶּה בְּקָרוֹב לוֹמַר לְפָנֶיךָ שִׁירָה חֲדָשָׁה.	Please, plant brotherhood, peace and friendship in the hearts of all, Remove envy and baseless hatred and spread over us the Sukkah of Your peace, And may we merit to soon sing before You a ‘New Song.’[1]