Sixth Day of Passover

The Dual Identity of Passover: A Reflection on Slavery, Redemption, and the Coronavirus

According to Jewish tradition, there is Biblical commandment to gather our families around the table and recount the exodus from Egypt as part of the Passover Seder. Interestingly, the Hagaddah (book used to recount the story) begins with the process of going down to Egypt, becoming enslaved, and unbearable suffering that ensued during this period. If the commandment is to recount the exodus, shouldn’t the story begin with the Jewish people leaving Egypt?

To answer this question, many Jewish scholars note that we are meant to view ourselves as if we personally are being liberated from Egypt. Yet, because several millennia have passed since then, it might be hard for us to personally connect to the concept of freedom without revisiting the painful details of slavery. Thus, in the Passover Hagaddah, we start with the concept of becoming enslaved. Based on cognitive psychology, this answer makes sense. Our brain works similar to a computer, which constantly seeks to find similarities and differences between objects and concepts. By contrasting the experience of slavery with freedom, one gains greater appreciation for each.

This year, there is no need for this cognitive exercise. The concepts of plagues and bondage are all too real. Our whole way of life has been flipped upside down. Social distancing guidelines limit our ability to interact with friends, family, and the outside world, in general. No level of society has been untouched. We have inexplicably lost loved ones due to the coronavirus. Yet, if the Passover narrative serves as a guide, we have only experienced the first half of our story. I am hopeful that we will eventually be liberated from all of this pain and suffering. When we emerge from this social distancing, I look forward to us, as a St. Francis College family, gathering around our tables and rejoicing in our personal liberation.

My God bless and protect you and your families during this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Daniel Kaplin, PhD

Daniel Kaplin, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychology