fbpx

Sephardic Torah from the Holy Land | The Seventh Day…

On Passover night, God took us out of Egypt. On the Seventh Day, Hamas took them back.
[additional-authors]
April 22, 2024
A missing poster is hung on a chair at an empty seder table featuring 133 chairs representing the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7th, during a protest opposite Downing Street on April 17, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

The Seventh Day was not holy. 

The Seventh Day was profane. 

The Seventh Day was defiled. 

Simchat Torah fell on the Seventh Day. 

Simchat Torah fell. 

There was no Simcha.

There was no Torah. 

They danced with the Torah.

They danced at Novah.

They were murdered.

They were murdered.

The Seventh Day was not Shabbat.

We did not rest.

We still do not rest…  

On Passover night, God took us out of Egypt.

On the Seventh Day, Hamas took them back.

On Passover night, we went from slavery to freedom.

On the Seventh Day, they went from freedom to slavery.

On Passover night, God redeemed us.

On the Seventh Day, Hamas raped them.

On Passover night, you shall tell your children.

On the Seventh Day, children became hostages.

On Passover night, we eat the Passover sacrifice.

On the Seventh Day, brave soldiers sacrificed their lives.

On Passover night, God passed over doorposts with blood.

On the Seventh Day, doorposts were stained with innocent blood. 

On Passover night, God slaughtered the Angel of Death.

On the Seventh Day, the Angel of Death slaughtered…

On the Seventh Day, they did not rest.

On Passover night, they are not free…

 


Rabbi Daniel Bouskila is the international director of the Sephardic Educational Center.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Print Issue: Iran | March 5, 2026

Success in the war against Iran – which every American and Israeli should hope for – will only strengthen the tendency of both leaders to highlight their dominant personalities as the state axis, at the expense of the boring institutions that serve them.

In a Pickle– A Turshi Recipe

Tangy, bright and filled with irresistible umami flavor, turshi is the perfect complement to burgers, kebabs and chicken, as well as the perfect foil for eggs and salads.

Who Knows?

When future generations tell your story and mine, which parts will look obvious in hindsight? What opportunities will we have leveraged — and decisions made — that define our legacy?

You Heard It Here First, Folks!

For over half a decade, I had seen how the slow drip of antisemitism, carefully enveloped in the language of social justice and human rights, had steadily poisoned people whom I had previously considered perfectly reasonable.

Trump’s Critics Have a Lot Riding on the Iran Conflict

Their assumptions about the attack on Iran are based on a belief in the resilience of an evil terrorist regime, coupled with a conviction that Trump’s belief in the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance is inherently wrong.

Me Llamo Miguel

With Purim having just passed, I’ve been thinking about how Jews have been disguising ourselves over the years.

The Hope of Return

This moment calls for moral imagination. For solidarity with the Iranian people demanding dignity. For sustained support of those who seek a freer future.

Stranded by War

We are struggling on two fronts: we worry about friends and family, and we are preoccupied with our own “survival” on a trip extended beyond our control.

Love Letters to Israel

Looking around at the tears, laughter, and joy after two years of hell, the show was able to not just touch but nourish our souls.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.