Music AND Words? You Betcha.
Linkety-links plus a few thoughts.
Dear fam,
In just a few days I’ll be sitting down with my sweet girls for a Passover seder. It’ll be both strange and beautiful (as so many things are), I’m sure. We won’t be reading the entire haggadah, because sitting through multiple hours of Hebrew and Aramaic readings is perhaps too much to request from Toddler and Big Kid. Maybe even from me.
Instead, we’ll go through the order of the seder, marking each item with a brief activity or blessing. We’ll sing traditional songs. We’ll laugh, probably, and eat matzah with bitter herbs and charoset. We are very fortunate, because we get to sit with loved ones and celebrate a holiday. For so, so many people that is no longer possible.
Passover is the holiday of Freedom, and yet we are approaching it as the world becomes decidedly less free than it was. The families of the hostages and missing people, who will be marking this Passover with a gaping hole in their heart, the families of the 50,000 people who have been killed or have disappeared in Gaza in the past year and a half (including 505 children since the ceasefire deal collapsed), the hundreds of people who have been disappeared by the United States government (and their families) are all living in bondage. They are held in the fist of a reality they never wanted but must, nevertheless, live through.
As Emma Lazarus famously said, until all of us are free, none of us are free.
With this in mind, I almost can’t bear to sit down to celebrate freedom. But I will. As I tell my wife all the time — everything we do to fight back against the darkness is something. And, although none of it is enough, it’s still a whole lot better than nothing. Perhaps, when I’m reading the ancient words of my ancestors, I can find additional strength for further action. Perhaps you can, too.
The Passover story tells us to believe in miracles. So much of the palpable despair right now comes from a lack of ability to imagine that the world can be different. But we must believe that the world can be different. If we imagine the world, if we believe in that miraculous vision of a future where safety and equality are not in scarce supply, but abundant resources enjoyed by all — only then will we be able to bring that vision into fruition.
Wishing you a chag cherut sameach,
Mikhal
Hey there! Welcome to the Chaos Palace is a space uplifting ADHD, queerness, Judaism, and how to find opportunities for growth & creativity in the messiness of life.
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Looking for a haggadah to use during your seder? Feel free to use our family version, written by my wife and I over several years.
Reading Recs:
As always, these works are not necessarily things I endorse, although some are! Have fun guessing! What they all have in common is the ability to make me think and expand my mind. Some I had to come to with more compassion and deep breaths than others. All were worth the time it took to listen or read.
- ’s breakdown of the complete mess the current administration made was fascinating. Read the article here.
- ’s piece about rereading (poetry and in general) was just what I needed to read before Passover. Read the piece here.
- taught me something I never knew about one of my favorite books of all time! Read the piece here.
- recommends leaning into inconsistency for ADHDers, and honestly I totally agree. Read the piece here.
- describes a Hands Off protest in a small town in Upstate NY. Read the piece here.
Want more reasons to feel icky about Dr. Oz?
has the goods in this article about why Medicare and Medicaid actually are important. Read the piece here.Feel weird about your chin? Time to reclaim them, says
in this piece about selfies and so much more. Read the piece here.[HEBREW] Sicha Mekomit has an interesting (and very upsetting) piece about a new UN report on gender-based violence in Gaza. Read the piece here.
Should we… just buy music from the musicians instead of using streaming platforms?
asks this brave question in an article about Bandcamp and more. Read the piece here.- has thoughts about civil resistance. Read the piece here.
Thomas Friedman writes about the post-everything vision Trump and Netanyahu are trying to make happen. Read the piece here.
A CNN reporting team got some videos of the complete destruction of a whole swath of land in Gaza. Read the piece here.
Ynet News reports about the released hostages speaking out against Netanyahu’s government — and how they are being treated online. Read the piece here.
Listening Recs:
I don’t think you can listen to this song and not bop around.
A great conversation about how social media is impacting our kids and what to do about it, that somehow never mentions systemic change? Like, yes to all of this, but also a living wage, affordable childcare, more green spaces are all important.
Trigger warning: A family lost their son, who has a legal visa, and has not heard where he might be. The government did this.
A fascinating conversation between two economists about tariffs and how they specifically impact Israel.
Why did the Nova massacre happen? These survivors want answers.
What a beautiful tribute to freedom and miracles--qualities celebrated by the Passover. I learned something new today! In particular, you write with great poignancy about the tragedy in Gaza, and how "until all of us are free, none of us are free." I very much agree with this sentiment. Please continue to write about it! The candle that you hold for your family and community will shine a light on people's conscience, and every flicker of light counts. Wishing you a peaceful Passover. And thanks for your mentioned! xo
Thank you for sharing, Mikhal!