Ten ways to make Seder 2024 relevant

1. Remember the hostages

“This year we are slaves, next year may we be free,” has never been so poignant, at least not in the lifetime of most of us. Jews around the world will link this year’s celebration of liberation to the captivity of those kidnapped by Hamas.  

Some ideas include: Provide each participant at the seder with a piece of yellow ribbon to tie around their wrist or their kiddush cup as a symbol of waiting for the hostages to come home. Add an empty chair to symbolise the absent, whether killed or kidnapped on October 7. Or give each participant the details of a single hostage to read and perhaps share during the Seder.

2. Rethink the four children

The division of children into wise, wicked, simple and the one who does not know how to ask has had many reworkings over the years. For this year, Rabbi Rachel Barenblat, who blogs as the Velveteen Rabbi, has written a powerful version that breaks down the divisions within the Jewish people and visualises unity.

All Four (Are One)

Today the Four Children are a Zionist,
a Palestinian solidarity activist, a peacenik, and
one who doesn’t know what to even dream.

The Zionist, what does she say? Two thousand years
we dreamed of return. “Next year in Jerusalem”
is now, and hope is the beacon we steer by.

The solidarity activist, what do they say?
We know the heart of the stranger. To be oppressors
is unbearable. Uplift the downtrodden.

The peacenik, what does he say? We both love this land
and neither is leaving. We’re in this together.
Between the river and the sea two peoples must be free.