I unintentionally introduced a modicum of controversy into the familial Seder when discussing the true implications of freedom or lack thereof.

I had the temerity to suggest that freedom may be more a relative concept than an absolute one at least for the Jewish people. In terms of Passover reflection, I wondered aloud whether our people are entirely free when our incredible pilots, along with our amazing ground crews, cannot be at home with their families for Pesach. Our courageous ground troops are holding security buffer zones rather than holding Seders with their near and dear ones.

While we are no longer slaves to fate as we now have the means and the will to defend ourselves, the fact that we have to do so still seems to me to impinge upon collective freedom. When our people are summoned away from Passover celebrations to bomb shelters, are we entirely free? Conversely, it would appear that the freedom to gather without those alarms and live normal lives is exactly the freedom Israel is fighting for.

One irate family member informed me that Israelis are entirely free- to gather in cafes and go online. In terms of the latter, we will not discuss here slavery to technology! In terms of the former addiction to coffee is also subject matter for another time.

The question is not the undoubted resilience of the Israelis. The question in my mind arises from the worry of personal injury or worse as well as property damage as missiles continue to rain down upon our population centers. Moreover, how do we compute for the miluimnik who diligently and devotedly serves hundreds of days away from his/ her spouse, kids and parents? Free or not?

I suspect that we cannot add a fifth question to the Hagaddah, but we can certainly hope and pray that it will not be one that we are faced with in a year from now. That would mean that we will be able to inhale the sweet smell of true physical and spiritual freedom- a real victory for Israel and the Jewish people.

Peace with security. Am Yisrael Chai!

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)