Each year, Jewish families gather around the Passover table to retell one of the defining stories of our people: the journey from slavery to freedom. The Seder is more than a ritual meal. It is a reminder that the Jewish story is built on collective destiny, moral responsibility, and an enduring commitment to one another.

The Exodus narrative teaches that freedom was never meant to be experienced alone. The Israelites did not leave Egypt as individuals; they departed as a people with shared purpose. From its earliest moments, our story has been one of interconnected fate.

At a time when Israel faces extraordinary challenges, the lessons of Passover feel especially urgent. The modern State of Israel represents more than a political achievement; it is the realization of an ancient aspiration that the Jewish people should once again live freely in our ancestral homeland. After centuries of exile, the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty reflects the same longing for self-determination that echoes through the Passover story.

Zionism draws from the values embedded in that story. It is grounded in the idea of arevut—mutual responsibility—that Jews everywhere share a deep bond with one another and with the land of Israel.

Throughout the Seder, we speak in the language of collective identity. “We were slaves in Egypt.” “God brought us out.” Jewish tradition teaches that every generation must see itself as if he or she personally left Egypt. This identity connects us not only to our ancestors, but to each other in the present.

Today, that sense of shared responsibility must extend to all those who call Israel home.

Israel is a vibrant and diverse society. Jews from across the globe have returned to their ancestral homeland, bringing with them languages, traditions, and cultures that enrich the country’s fabric. Alongside them live Druze, Christians, Muslims, Bedouins, and others who contribute to the life of the nation every day. Farmers cultivating the land, educators shaping the next generation, doctors caring for patients, soldiers protecting communities, and families building their futures—all are part of the story unfolding in Israel.

To stand with Israel is therefore to stand with the people who live there and share in the building of its society. Today, Jewish National Fund-USA carries that same spirit of the Exodus story forward with urgency and scale. From protecting Israel’s North from Iranian missile attacks to supporting communities through Zionist engagement, the organization is continuing the legacy of the land and people of Israel by helping them live the most fulfilled and safest lives they can.

While the modern State of Israel has given us our freedom, Passover reminds us that freedom is fragile. The Israelites did not move directly from Egypt to the Promised Land; they first faced the uncertainty of the wilderness. Their journey required faith, perseverance, and unity. Today, supporting Israel does not mean ignoring complexity or silencing disagreement—Jewish tradition has always valued debate. But it also insists that our disagreements remain grounded in a shared commitment to the well-being of our people and the future of our homeland.

As we raise our cups of wine and retell our story of redemption and liberation, we are reminded that the Exodus is not simply history—it is a living inheritance. Redemption is not a passive gift. It demands participation. The Israelites had to walk through the sea. We have to show up, give, build, and plant.

Jewish National Fund-USA shows us what it looks like to keep walking.

This Passover, as we proclaim “Next Year in Jerusalem!”, may those words inspire not only hope, but responsibility: a responsibility to stand together, guided by Jewish values, and united in support of all who call Israel home.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)