Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: A Passover Reflection

Liberation is not a zero-sum game because our humanity can only be realized through recognizing the humanity of others.

Passover--a celebration of freedom that commemorates the story of the Israelites’ exodus from bondage--is a reminder that our liberation cannot come at the expense of another's freedom.

I refuse to weaponize Jewish suffering to deny or deflect from the suffering, oppression, and dispossession of Palestinians. I reject the falsehood that Jewish safety must come at the expense of the people of Palestine. As an American Jew with family in Israel, I advocate for the freedom, equality, and security of all human beings in the region.

My work starts with a recognition of common humanity and human dignity, and the value of both Palestinian and Israeli lives. I agree with Ben Burgis that whether or not Israelis or Palestinians are “really indigenous” to the land is the wrong question to ask. Human rights shouldn't be the privilege of people of certain religions or ethnicities. All people deserve human rights because we are human, not because of where our ancestors came from.

The narrative of liberation from Egypt teaches us that oppression in any form diminishes us all. Those who take away others’ freedom are not truly free. As Nelson Mandela powerfully explains, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” This is the essence of our obligation as humans.

Chag Pesach Sameach.

#Passover #NotInOurName #CollectiveLiberation #HumanRights

ID: An illustration of Moses holding out his staff before the Red Sea. Image credit: https://spiritedtable.com/blog/2018/3/23/passover-liberty-freedom

My title refers to Angela Davis’s book Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement (2015)