The Jewish people face unprecedented challenges in our times. How do we prepare for the future in these days of great trials? 2,600 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah taught us a lesson in faith in a time when destruction was at the door—literally. His act of audacious hope is beckons us today.

It’s hard to think of something as basic as the Pesach Seder, when the entire Jewish people gather around the table. Yet, for many, it can be hard to connect with the Seder experience.

This challenge has special meaning today. Last Shabbat NJ time, Iran launched a rocket attack on Israel, part of Iran’s genocidal attempt to wipe the world’s only Jewish state off the map. How do we approach the Seder in this perilous time?

There is a lot to figure out about the Seder…

When we arrive to the Seder table, it can seem like a jumble of rituals. At one moment, we are talking about ancestors in Egypt, the next some rabbis in B’nai Brak and then we’re dipping vegetables in salt water. We conclude with Aramaic songs about a goat father bought for two Zuz.

To help unravel this, in this podcast we will examine at five fundamental aspects of the Haggadah. Together they form a basis for us to understand and appreciate the Seder experience.

The Torah remarks of one who is stricken with the Tzaaras plague that “outside of the camp shall be their dwelling.” This sense of “dwelling outside” may be an apt description of people in our community who lack the family structure we promote. People who are single, divorced or childless can easily feel isolated.

How do we help Jews of all backgrounds connect with their heritage?