Seder/Economic Justice

Forgot to post this before seder but here it is for years to come....I found this and brought it to the Mercaz call last week. It's an interpretation of the Bread of Affliction (HaLachma Anya [ANYA!!!!]) text at the beginning of the Magid section of the Hagada. Original text then interpretation:

Ha Lachma Anya

This is the bread of affliction, the poor bread,

which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt.

Let all who are hungry come and eat.

Let all who are in want, share the hope of Passover.

As we celebrate here, we join with our people everywhere.

This year we celebrate here.

Next year in the land of Israel.

Now we are still in bonds.

Next year may we all be free.

Affliction Beyond Hunger

by Jews for Racial and Economic Justice

In our city today, some of our neighbors are forced to work in order to receive their meager welfare benefits, which barely enable them to survive. Tonight we share their bread of affliction:

• The affliction of work without dignity
• The injustice of no minimum wage
• The theft of protection from injury
• The anxiety of work with no future
• Panic at the threat of lost benefits.
• The stress of leaving a child for work
• The shame of forced placement
• The death of educational opportunity
• The robbery of the right to organize
• Silenced voices of protest.

Who speaks aloud alongside those whose speech has been muted?

Who breathes together with those who cannot catch their breath?

We can breathe the breath of life, we can join these struggles, we can face the Pharoahs and strip them of their power.