Passover in Israel: “Why Is This Night Different?”

This Passover, the answer to Ma Nishtana was heartbreaking: this night, we spend in bomb shelters. Sirens sounded throughout the Seder and continued through the holiday, as families marked the festival of freedom under fire.

Exhausted—physically and emotionally—from repeated runs to shelter, PKI’s community members still came together through Zoom sessions, support calls, and constant connection via WhatsApp and Telegram. The daily rhythm has become one of continuous check-ins—reaching out after each siren and waiting, often anxiously, for confirmation that everyone is safe. Too often, missile fragments are landing nearby, damaging homes, and exacerbating the emotional strain. In recent days, explosions have struck near the homes of our coordinators and participants, and in Haifa, a deadly attack hit the very neighborhood where members of our community live. Some participants have begun speaking about preparing ethical wills—naming who would contact loved ones if something happens to them.

And still, PKI continues. Even though they cannot gather in person, they come together each evening virtually—learning, sharing, and holding one another through fear and uncertainty. In the midst of profound hardship, this commitment to connection is where we can find our resilience.