Passover is meant to be a time of joy. It is a holiday centered on family, freedom, and togetherness.

We gather around beautifully set tables for the traditional “seder” (order) meal, surrounded by loved ones, retelling a story that has defined the Jewish people for generations. We celebrate resilience. We celebrate redemption. We celebrate the ability to move from darkness into light.

But for many families, Passover does not feel like freedom.

My community is currently navigating a “triple threat” of crisis.

We are seeing families who were already pushed to the brink by a child’s life-threatening diagnosis, now grappling with the terrifying reality of a direct conflict with Iran and a global surge in antisemitism that has left many feeling vulnerable in their own neighborhoods.

While others are preparing for Passover seders and welcoming guests, many families are juggling hospital visits, managing complex medications, and navigating overwhelming uncertainty.

A child in the middle of intensive treatment may not be able to attend a seder at all. Siblings may feel forgotten in the chaos. The emotional and physical exhaustion can make even the simplest traditions feel completely out of reach.

This year, the traditional “Four Questions” we ask at the seder table carry a different weight. We are asking them in a world where the safety of the Jewish people feels precarious.

For a mother sitting in a pediatric oncology ward, the news of a terror attack or the report of another antisemitic incident is not just “current events.” It is an added layer of isolation. It is a feeling that the world outside is as hostile as the illness fighting her child’s body inside.

Many Jewish charities are stepping up to help.

I work as the director at Chai Lifeline West Coast, an international support network for children and families facing illness, trauma, and loss. We operate on a simple but profound principle: that when a child is sick, the entire family is diagnosed.

We provide a “village” of support, from professional counseling and Big Brother/Big Sister programs to emergency financial assistance and summer camps. We ensure that a medical crisis does not mean a family has to face the world alone.

During Passover, that challenge intensifies. Preparing kosher-for-Passover meals, creating a sense of normalcy for children, and finding the strength to celebrate: It can all feel impossible.

But it doesn’t have to be.

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The message of Passover is not just about remembering our past. It is about how we show up for one another in the present. True freedom is not only about the historical exodus from Egypt. It is about the contemporary work of ensuring that no one feels trapped in his struggle today.

In a time when antisemitism seeks to make us retreat and pull apart, our greatest act of resistance is to lean in and support one another.

There are simple, meaningful ways each of us can make a difference. We often think we need to do something “grand,” but the most effective support is often the most personal.

Invite a family or friend who might otherwise be alone, but do so with the flexibility that person needs. Send a meal so parents don’t have to worry about one more thing. Reach out: Don’t wait for someone to ask for help.

In a climate of heightened anxiety, a simple text or a phone call can be the lifeline that reminds a family they are still seen.

These small acts create something powerful: connection, dignity, and relief.

We can each bring light into moments that feel impossibly dark. Especially now, as we navigate a world that feels increasingly uncertain and often unkind.

The light we provide for one another is our most valuable resource.