On Freedom & Change

Dear friends,

The days leading up to Passover are a particularly emotional time of year for me. My beloved father passed away nine years ago, with his funeral taking place on the day of the first seder. It was surreal. We went from the funeral home to the cemetery, to my parents’ home where we sat shiva for several hours. And then our rabbi told us it was time to get up from shiva, take a walk around the block, and come back to prepare for our seder.

According to Jewish law, this was required of us. And so we went through the steps, following the cherished tradition handed down to us from our ancestors, from generation to generation, honouring my father and his legacy.

At Passover, we read through the Haggadah, retelling the story of how Moses led the Jews out of slavery in Egypt towards freedom. We are encouraged to retell the story as though we ourselves were enslaved and ultimately freed. We will exclaim “Let My People Go” and recite “this year we are slaves, next year we will be free people.”

The story of Passover resonates deeply during these challenging times, when our hearts are connected to the 129 hostages who remain captive in Gaza, today marking an unthinkable 196 days. Jews around the world are experiencing a modern day, real-life relevance of the story of enslavement, praying for an exodus and liberation.

And so, as I approach the Passover holiday, I feel a deepened sense of bittersweetness, as I painfully miss the presence of my father, and as my heart aches for those held in captivity. I pray for a peaceful Shabbat and peaceful days ahead for you and your loved ones, for Eretz Yisrael, and for the world around us. I pray for freedom for the hostages and that they may return to the warm embrace of their family and friends.

As Passover heralds the arrival of spring and renewal, it also marks a time of change for our Jewish Federation.

Since I took on the position as chair of the board of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa in June, there have been a multitude of changes. The one line I have heard from so many of my mentors during the past 10 months is “change brings opportunity” and I have become a true believer in these words. Our incoming CEO Adam Silver brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in leadership, and a vision that aligns with our community’s values and aspirations for our future. He is a warm, engaging, kind individual, with an authenticity that makes him an incredible leader yet at the same time he works so well as a team player.

While change can be unsettling, creating feelings of uncertainty and apprehension, I believe we are at an exciting moment in our community. We have this golden opportunity to explore new and creative ideas and adapt the work we are doing to enhance our strategic planning.

We have a remarkably strong foundation to build upon, and I hope you join me in looking forward to our future with positive energy, optimism, and enthusiasm.

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Hagadol Shalom, and Chag Pesach sameach.

Karen Palayew

P.S. Ways to honour and remember the hostages: Consider participating in the “Seder Seat for a Hostage” initiative, which urges individuals and families to set an extra place at their seder table for one of the hostages. Learn more here.

You many also add a prayer to your seder, while here is another article with some inspirational words and ideas.

View community calendar of Passover events.