Kehila yekara, Dear community,
Every Pesach, it's a joy to extend a heartfelt "Chag Sameach" to everyone around me. I cherish sitting at our Seder table, watching my children sing "Ma Nishtana," and joining in with my favourite lines, "עַתָּה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין - ata b’nei chorin (and now we are free)…" and "לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בִּירוּשָלָיִם - leshana habaa b'Yerushalayim." Together, we drink our cups of wine, celebrating the spirit of freedom that spans from ancient times to today.
But this year strikes a different chord.
Our hearts are heavy with the plight of 133 hostages and their families, whose notion of freedom is painfully distant. We hold in mind all 604 fallen sons and daughters of our defence forces. We’re holding space for our Israeli family and friends—many still displaced—to reclaim their freedom from fear, terror, and conflict.
In our own community, we yearn for a day when waving an Israeli flag, wearing a Magen David or a kippah is just another day, free from the shadows of antisemitism and hate.
One of my hardest duties has been to write condolence letters to the bereaved families of our Four Fallen Sons in our sister community in the Arava. This year, I invite everyone to bring to life the stories of these four extraordinary young men, tragically lost in service since 7 October. Their stories, collected under the title "The Four Fallen Sons of the Arava," can be thoughtfully read during the Seder, either before or after the passage of the four sons in the Haggadah. You may also wish to join Jewish families around the world leaving an empty seat at their table in honour of our missing hostages.
Like the four sons of the Haggadah, each of whom is unique and requires different answers, our four fallen sons were distinctly individual, each with his own dreams and contributions. The Cohen, Shakotai, Elias, and Shahar families have all endorsed this tribute, allowing us to honour their memories collectively. As we remember them, let us reflect on their lives and the profound lessons they impart to us, reinforcing the unique value and story of every child.
Though I am not prepared to give up on our eternal blessing of “chag sameach”, I find myself sending over a dose of hope and grit alongside it:
* Hope fuelled by the incredible futures our children and youth are building for themselves and our community in Australia and in Israel. If you need to fill your cup, spend some time around our youth—they are inspirational.
* A rock-solid belief in our collective courage and resilience, which will always trump darkness, hate and fear. We have known dark times before, and have always emerged to bring back the light.
* A profound belief that our unity is our superpower—fuelling a future that will see our people survive and thrive for generations to come.
Wishing you a Pesach of meaning, connection and freedom,
Am Yisrael chai.
Alon
Alon Cassuto
CEO, ZFA
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