B’tzeit yisrael mi-mitzrayim / Beit Ya’akov me-am lo’ez: “When Israel came out from Egypt / The House of Jacob from a ‘people of strange speech’…”
Psalm 114 is familiar from its prominent place in the Passover Haggadah - and from the Hallel-songs that are sung on each Jewish holiday. Embedded in this ancient and beautiful poem is a profound meditation on a universal vision of freedom: freedom for Israel and for everyone, as the natural world rejoices in liberation. Yet other parts of the poem (‘a people of strange speech”?) are an enigma. There’s a lot going on in these familiar words, and the remarkable subtlety and beauty of the Psalm reveal a lot about the meaning and possibility of Pesach.
Come join our spirited community of. learners as we explore the meaning of these words, especially their context in the Seder. ALL ARE WELCOME: We promise plenty of great material for your Seders this year.