Pesach is the holiday that reminds us how much our ancestors suffered in order to allow us to live as we do today. It is a holiday that brings us together and reminds us of our exodus from Egypt, where we officially became the chosen people of G-d. During this holiday we do not eat anything that is leavened (chametz). Some people consider matzah that has come into contact with water as if it were leavened (Gebrokst) and therefore forbidden to eat during Pesach.

This holiday is also called “זמן חרותנו” (zman cherutenu), the time of our freedom. The term “freedom” suggests being free to do whatever one wants. However, this is not true freedom, because inevitably it leads to interfering with someone else’s freedom.

Perhaps the word ”Cherutenu" (our freedom) means two entirely different ideas:

1. The freedom to express ourselves as Jews, not as slaves of Pharaoh, by observing the Torah and its commandments. The freedom of a people is reflected above all in the ability to freely express its moral, ethical, and religious values.

2. Cherutenu is also connected to the word “אחריות” (achrayut), meaning responsibility. We were freed from the slavery of Pharaoh in order to take on our responsibilities as Jews toward G-d, who created the world and brought us out of Egypt—something we remember every day in the Shema and every Shabbat in the Kiddush.

We should therefore all be able to leave this holiday carrying with us both the freedom to express ourselves as Jews and the responsibility toward the One who made us who we are.

Chag Sameach, 

Eli Natan Cohenca

BBYO Italy