The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has created its own Haggadah of Freedom, a Seder guide that includes personal stories from released Israeli hostages and hostage family members alongside the traditional Passover blessings.
The new interpretation of the Haggadah incorporates the story of the "Seder" that former hostages Liri Albag and Agam Berger held while in captivity; the letter that kidnapped soldier Hadar Goldin wrote to his fiancée on the eve of Passover before his abduction in 2014; the music that saved released hostage Sagui Dekel Chen; the story of Ethiopian-Israeli Avraham Mengistu’s release after ten years in Hamas captivity, and many more.
“This year, as we retell the story of liberation from Egypt, the Haggadah of Freedom adds the voices of today’s hostage families and released hostages,” said Nivi Feldman, an organiser from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK. “Their reflections and resilience sit alongside our ancient text, reminding us that the fight for freedom is not only our history—it’s our present.”
The book, which features illustrations by Vered Goldman, attempts to bridge the gap between the story of Exodus from Egypt and the contemporary struggles of the Jewish people through modern interpretations of the ancient experiences, with one section on Moses’ profound realisation explored through the story of Ruby Chen, the father of released hostage Itay Chen.
