By Shelley Trope-Friedman, President WIZO South Africa
At the time of writing – quite some time before the printing of this edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle – Israel is still embroiled in the war and we are anticipating a pending hostage deal.
We are now fast approaching Pesach and the current struggles for freedom and justice still draw constant parallels to the story of the Exodus.
The main theme of Pesach focuses on redemption as this is when Hashem led the Israelites from slavery to freedom. The Jewish people could not be truly free of the physical bondage of Egypt until they were spiritually free too. The notion of spiritual redemption is demonstrated by the idea that in every generation each individual is obliged to view themselves as though they had left Egypt and freed themselves in order to achieve their full spiritual potential.
This story is similar to those of the battered women who stay protected in the Women’s International Zionist Organisation’s (WIZO) homes for abused women. Here these women undergo therapies and treatments to give them the life skills needed to move forward as fully functional members of society, thereby giving them the freedom to live their lives, both physically and spiritually, to their full potential, just like those who ultimately were freed from Pharaoh.
The Seder illustrates the coexistence of past and future redemption. The past redemption we know as the Exodus. The term “Season of our Freedom” alludes to more than just the Jews’ freedom from enslavement in Egypt, but also invokes the true freedom of every Jew at all times and in all places.
From the beginning of the war, WIZO has been on the ground and at the forefront coaxing women’s organisations to speak up and to stand up, and has encouraged organisations to demand the liberation of the hostages held in captivity. The phrase #metoounlessyouareajew was coined as all women’s organisations were silent. None of them spoke out!
WIZO’s collaborative efforts created awareness and emergency fundraising campaigns to aid those most in need by highlighting the position of women in captivity, and we continue to do so.
WIZO’s current focus is on rehabilitating the south of Israel by opening our day care centres in Sderot to bring back a semblance of normality and “freedom” so that people can return to work and to their homes, with peace of mind knowing that their children are receiving the best possible care.
Pesach teaches us about faith and to embrace and realise the true value of freedom by reflecting on the nature of bondage and the value of liberty. While this is especially difficult knowing that our hostages are still in captivity, WIZO does all it can to give freedom and liberation to the people of Israel by means of our projects for babies, youth and women, and continues with the deep hope that all the hostages will be freed and out of bondage.
As we connect with our faith, our community and the wider world this Pesach, may you and your loved ones experience joy, peace and renewal. We all continue to pray for the safe release of the hostages.
Chag Sameach!
Website: WIZO South Africa
• Published in the April 2024 issue – Click here to start reading.
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