In previous seders and progressive traditions, we often now discuss "contemporary plagues" that confront us, naming racism, capitalism, misogyny, etc. But when we do that, we are identifying with Pharoah and viewing God, who brought the plagues to free the Israelites, as the enemy; as if God has brought forth racism, capitalism, misogyny, etc. to awaken and free us. Yet these systems and ideologies that plagues us today are man made. 

In the Passover story, we are *on the side of the plagues* which are necessary to break the stubborn will of evil tyrants and their defenders. The plagues are a reminder that liberation does not come bloodlessly. We are not smug or flip about the plagues - they are horrific and ugly - and we reduce our celebration and empty our cups in recognition of that. But if we're looking to understand today's struggles in light of the Passover story, we should not see racism, capitalism, misogyny, etc. as contemporary manifestations of the plagues brought by God, but as contemporary manifestations of Pharoah. And while a further parallel here might be to wish for divine intervention and new plagues that will break the regimes of our modern tyrants and systems of oppression, we must consider how we can step into our power ourselves.


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues
Source: Adapted from Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein