Passover is good time to reflect on current state of relations between Black and Jewish communities

With the celebration of Passover continuing throughout the week, Jews around the world are focused on the retelling of one of the bible’s most powerful and enduring stories: the ancient Israelite exodus from Egypt.

For more than 3,000 years, this story of enslavement, redemption and liberation has been passed down from generation to generation with the guidance from the Passover guide book, the Haggadah, that: In every generation each individual is obligated to view themself as if he or she personally was redeemed from slavery in Egypt.

Given our modern lifestyles it may seem impossible to feel this personal experience of ancient slavery and divine miracles, but perhaps the Haggadah offers us a broader lesson about empathy.

By imploring us to personally imagine ourselves in the position of another, we are forced to break down the barriers that often separate ethnic and religious communities.

This empathy, and the powerful parallels between Jewish history and the experiences of the Black community in America, makes Passover an obvious time to reflect on the current state of relations between our two communities.

In both the Jewish and Black communities, the shadow of slavery looms large in our collective consciousness.

For Jews, it is the story of Pharaoh’s bondage, a tale of suffering and survival that continues to shape our identity.

For African Americans, it is the legacy of the Middle Passage and the centuries of enslavement that followed, including the long, arduous and ongoing fight for equality.

While the circumstances differ, the essence of these struggles — fighting for dignity, for the right to be free and for justice — bind us together in ways that should naturally deepen the connection between our communities.

In recent years, the Black and Jewish communities have faced challenges that have sometimes strained our relationship, but at the heart of these difficulties lies a mutual yearning for fairness and equality. We also share the power of resilience.

The Jewish people have never allowed their history of persecution to define them, and neither has the Black community. We have both risen from the ashes of trauma to create vibrant cultures, thriving communities and powerful movements for justice. Our victories have been hard won, and our struggles have shaped our identities.

This is why the recent announcement that a series of Israeli universities are signing agreements to establish new exchange programs and other projects with Historically Black Colleges and Universities is so heartening. Organized by the National Black Empowerment Council, the initiative will include exchange programs for HBCU students to study in Israel, faculty exchange opportunities, collaborative research projects and potential opportunities for Ethiopian Israelis to visit HBCUs.

I had the opportunity to hear from the NBEC’s president at the rabbinic conference Zionism: A New Conversation last year and was deeply impressed by the organization’s focus on forging individual connections through direct, personal engagements that empower members of both communities. Ultimately, these types of relationships allow us to more fully experience the empathy at the heart of the Haggadah’s directive.

In the spirit of Passover, let us renew our efforts to strengthen ties like these between our communities. The history of Blacks and Jews in America serves as a powerful reminder that we are better together. There is so much that can be accomplished when we join together to amplify our collective voices in the fight for a better future.

Whether through shared activism, dialogue or simply the understanding that we have both faced the scourge of hatred, we have the opportunity to secure that vital foundation of trust and solidarity. There is no better time than this holiday of liberation to forge deeper relationships between our communities — not just in Chicago but across the country.

This year, Passover and Easter converge and with it two miraculous stories containing a vision of a redeemed world. Let us take the lessons of our traditions and apply them to the work that lies ahead. May we all find the strength to walk together, side by side, on an Exodus for our age following a path to a more just and unified future.

Michael Siegel is the senior rabbi of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.

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