This past Sunday, we ushered in the month of Nissan (and celebrated a special day in Jewish history – receiving the first mitzvah from G-d). As we rid our homes of chametz (at 7+ months pregnant, that’s not an easy task for me), confirm our Seder plans, and think about the varieties of matzah pizza to come, it’s important to take a step back and re-absorb the meaning of Pesach. Fortunately, the holiday carries much significance and that meaning can change year over year depending on which part you want to fixate on. This year, I want to focus on fundamentals – the power of asking questions.

If you jumped straight to Mah Nishtana (the four questions), you’re not alone. It’s common to arrive at this as it is the most famous set of questions we ask at the Seder. The theme of asking questions goes beyond the obvious Mah Nishtana. Throughout the Seder, we are encouraged to question the varying parts of the Haggadah and arrive at answers by thinking critically with our fellow Seder attendees. This brings me to us – the Voice of the People council. As a community of guests coming to a table together, it’s fundamental to our collective success to lean on the power of asking questions. Just for fun – if you were to write a Mah Nishtana VoP edition, what would you ask?

Lastly, at its core, Pesach is about freedom. As I write this, there are 59 human beings who will not be at their family or friend’s Seder tables this year – physically or spiritually – as they remain in Gaza. May freedom come soon for every single hostage and we see our loved ones returned. #letourpeoplego

Sammantha A. Marks.