Zero Percent Menachem Lehrfield

You can find written versions of this in written form and other talks at https://joidenver.com/passover

As we gather around the Passover Seder this year amidst the backdrop of war in Israel, the heart-wrenching reality of hostages still in captivity, and the rise of antisemitism around the world, I’ve been asked by so many people: How can we alter our Seder to reflect these dire circumstances? 
My answer: you don’t need to change a thing, since the Passover Haggadah, written so long ago, speaks directly to our current reality and remains as relevant today as ever. Its sacred texts and rituals, passed down through generations, carry an important message of hope and resilience.
The Jewish people are an Exodus-obsessed People. This obsession with the Exodus from Egypt is vividly displayed in our daily remembrances of it and the special rituals such as Kiddush, recited on Shabbat and other holidays, where we reaffirm our liberation from bondage. Each week and each holiday we repeat again and again how all of this is in remembrance of the exodus from Egypt. The significance of the Exodus is so profound that during the Sinai revelation—the only instance in history when God revealed Himself to a mass of people—He chose to introduce Himself not as the Creator of the world or even the God who was revealing Himself at that moment in time, but as the God who liberated the Jews from Egypt.
The reason for this, is that the slavery and subsequent exodus from Egypt was our training ground for us to become what Ken Spiro calls “The God Squad.” We focus on it daily and on special occasions but most profoundly on the holiday of Passover at our Seder.
The Seder is more than a recounting of the Exodus from Egypt; it is a profound dialogue between the past and the present, a guide for navigating through darkness towards the light. Within its structure—meticulously ordered to facilitate remembrance and reflection—lies the essence of our enduring spirit. 
This year, as we recite the ancient words, "In every generation, they rise up against us to destroy us, but the Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hands," we are reminded of the cyclical nature of our struggles. Yet, it is precisely this acknowledgement that strengthens our resolve and deepens our faith.
The story of Passover is a testament to the belief that even in the midst of despair, there is a plan, a reason for hope. It teaches that liberation from suffering is not only a possibility but a promise. When you say, "Next year in Jerusalem," you do not merely envision a physical location but yearn for a rebuilt Jerusalem, a symbol of peace and divine redemption. This aspiration encapsulates the collective yearning for a world transformed, where the sorrows of today give way to the joys of a brighter tomorrow.

This perspective is mirrored in the teaching of Rabban Gamliel, who explains that the main parts of the Seder are Pesach (The Pascal offering), matzah, and marror (the bitter herb). 
Pesach reminds us of the offering that was brought on the verge of our birth as a People while still in Egypt. The matzah reminds us that we left in such haste we didn't have time for the dough to rise properly. The bitter herb reminds us of the bitterness of slavery.
Isn’t this list out of order? Since we first experienced the bitterness, shouldn't that be mentioned first?
This sequence is deliberate. The Hebrew word for pain (tzar) shares the root of the word narrow (also tzar) because when you are in pain, you feel stuck, constricted. You cannot process the pain while you’re still immersed in it. You can’t see the label when you are inside the jar. Only once you’ve made it to safety and freedom can you understand how the challenges you’ve faced have made you who you are.
While I was studying and teaching at Aish in the Old City of Jerusalem, there was a...