Dear Friends,

On the eve of a Passover like no other we are invited to rise above what divides us to unite, as people, like never before. Priya Parker and I spoke on the New York Times Podcast this morning, on how our ancient rituals bring us together, and bring order to chaos. This morning as well, Rabbi Emily offered insight on Omer, another of our ancient rituals with much to offer us in this moment.

In the past weeks, mid spring cleaning, zooms and funerals, with birdsong and sirens in the background, the beloved Passover tune Vehi Sheamda kept singing in my heart. As I listened I realized this ancient prayer needs to be brought into the now. I made a short video to unpack our new translation of this song of survival, with intention.

Vehi Sheamda is part of the Passover Seder, sung by Jews for generations praising our survival, with so many foes and hardships along the way, saved by God.

What’s missing in most English translations is that the original Hebrew prayer alludes to She Who Persists – who always stood up for our ancestors. This unique and mysterious allusion to the Feminine Divine has intrigued generations of scholars who try to come up with ways to name Her as the Torah, the promise of redemption, the Shechine – Divine Presence.

This year is it is clear. She is Mother Earth. Mother Nature. Each and every one of us.

And this prayer is not just for Jews anymore. Not this year. It’s about all of us people.

We, humans, have persisted for generations through so many trials, wars, plagues and famines. We evolve, we’re still here, and it’s time we honor Mother Earth, our collective being that hold us now with severity and with love.

Can we rise above our fear and divisions, greed and gender, history and arrogance to listen to Her? To band together so we can save ourselves and our planet?

We who survived so many troubles, let us rise together now.

May this Passover help us heal, bond, build new bridges together, and join hands in the sacred task of healing our planet, our mother, our soul.

Raise your cup of hope this year at Seder and sing along to this new translation of She Who Persists.

Passover of Courage, Healing, and Connection.
Amichai Lau-Lavie