Four Hopes for 5785
As we celebrate this holiday of liberation, we are reminded that each of us is also on a personal journey from narrowness (metzarim) to freedom. For those considering their first steps toward Aliyah or those already in the process, this journey is not just symbolic. It’s real. And it’s full of challenges and moments of joy, uncertainty and discovery.
Inspired by the spirit of the seder and the Haggadah, I offer you arba tikvot—four hopes—for the year to come. May they guide and strengthen you, and inspire you to write your own Pesach story.
- Hope for Belonging—כי גר היית בארץ מצרים
“You were strangers in the land of Egypt.” These words are not only a reminder of our collective history but also an invitation to empathize with ourselves and with others. Many olim arrive in Israel with dreams of homecoming yet feel surprisingly like outsiders. The language is unfamiliar. The bureaucracy can be maddening. Even simple errands feel like small uphill battles.
This year, I hope you find moments of belonging. It begins in small ways—a smile from a neighbor, the first time you help someone else navigate the post office or order a hafuch (cappuccino) at the local coffee shop. Israeli warmth can hide under a crust of chutzpah, but once you tap into it, it’s real and lasting.
- Hope for Growth—בכל דור ודור חייב אדם לראות את עצמו
“In every generation, each person must see themselves as if they came out of Egypt.” As olim, you’ve already taken the leap out of your comfort zone. Now, it’s time to grow roots—but emotionally, spiritually and professionally.
That’s why I hope you give yourself permission to grow. That might mean starting Hebrew ulpan even though you’re nervous, applying for that job even if you think you’re not 100% ready or learning how to navigate the healthcare system. It might also mean seeking help when you need it. You don’t have to “get it all together” in year one or even year five. You also don’t have to go it alone.
Let Pesach’s renewal inspire you to invest in yourself. Above all, don’t give up. Israel is a land of opportunity, especially for those who persist and adapt.
- Hope for Freedom— עבדים היינו לפרעה במצרים
“We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.” The story of Pesach is not just about ancient bondage; it’s about reclaiming agency. That’s the meaning of freedom. This year, I hope as an oleh you taste true freedom. I mean the freedom that comes from learning how things work—and then making them work for you; the freedom of knowing your rights wherever you are; the freedom to say “no” when someone is trying to take advantage of your newness; the freedom to advocate for your children in school or for yourself at work.
Freedom needs to be earned, claimed and practiced. Use your curiosity as a tool. Ask questions. Find allies. Remember: the generation that left Egypt didn’t become a people until they spoke up. So, speak up, even if your Hebrew isn’t perfect. Your voice matters.
- Hope for Joy— והיא שעמדה לאבותינו ולנו
“And this is what has stood by our ancestors and by us … ” Through every generation, despite hardship, we endured. And we didn’t just survive. We celebrated. We danced at weddings, sang around tables, laughed over mismatched socks and undercooked kugel. Joy has always been part of our resistance, our resilience, our identity.
This year, I hope you feel joy. Feel joy even when things are messy. Feel joy in the call of a shuk vendor, in the rustle of palm trees on a warm afternoon, in your child’s first Hebrew song from gan. Feel joy when you remember how far you’ve come, and joy even when you still have far to go.
Pesach is called “Zman Cheiruteinu—the season of our freedom.” But freedom without joy is only half the story. So, let yourself laugh. Dance at a Yom Ha’Atzmaut concert. Sing Eliyahu HaNavi off-key. Find beauty in the chaos, and hope in the noise.
Chag Sameach. Welcome home.
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