Wilshire POV

Bitterness and Sweetness: A Passover Reflection - Rabbi Leah Lewis

Wilshire Boulevard Temple

For this week's Shabbat Message, Rabbi Leah Lewis reflects on the emotional weight of Passover this year, marked by the ongoing captivity of 59 Israelis in Gaza. Yet, Passover also emphasizes the coexistence of bitterness and sweetness—represented through traditional foods and rituals. This duality is echoed in the reading of Song of Songs during Passover, a poetic celebration of love and hope. Finding sweetness amid sorrow is a form of redemption, and that love—whether divine or human—holds sacred power to uplift us, even in broken times.

Each week, a member of the clergy offers their personal perspective on a topic of their choice, such as the week's Torah portion, a Jewish holiday, ritual, custom, or history.

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