Discussion Questions for Your Seder

The Haggadah emphasizes that the Seder’s liturgical recreation of the experience of the Exodus is not simply a history lesson but is to be understood as an ongoing event. In every generation issues of freedom come to the fore. In every generation, the pharonic tendencies of governments and societies manifest themselves. The exercise of uncontrolled power, the triumph of hatred, the fear of the ‘other’ is always with us. And we are reminded, as well, that the poor and the hungry, symbolically invited to our table, ought to be our concern. The traditional words of the Haggadah in fact instruct us: “All who expand on the story of the Exodus from Egypt are to be praised.”
Rabbis for Human Rights has prepared a Seder supplement which you can use to raise questions of human rights and of social justice at your Seder table. Because this year marks the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the birth of the State of Israel we’ve also included some of the ringing phrases from Israel’s Declaration of Independence and provided discussion questions for the Seder so that as you and your guests reflect on the meaning of freedom you can talk to each other about the place of Israel in your lives and your dreams and visions for the future of the State.
Happy Pesach.