A Passover of Sirens and Silence
In a reflective opinion piece published in the Jerusalem Post, author Stewart Weiss describes the 2026 Passover period as one defined by the sounds of warnings, sirens, and booms that accompanied the holiday season. Weiss, who writes from a personal perspective, notes that Israelis have grown accustomed to pausing for two-minute silences during the month of Nisan, but this year presented a particularly intense backdrop.
One of the lasting memories Weiss shares is praying Kabbalat Shabbat on a Friday night with 50 other people in a bunker on the Golan Heights, part of a program held each Passover at the Ramot Resort. As the group waited for the all-clear signal, they sang the Haggadah’s refrain “V’hi She’amda,” which Weiss quotes: “And this promise is what has stood by our ancestors and us; for it was not only just one who rose up to destroy us. In every single generation, there are those who would seek our destruction, but the Holy One, blessed be He, rescues us from their hands.”
From Egypt to Independence Day
Weiss argues that Passover sets the tone for the sequence of Israeli national days that follow it: Holocaust Remembrance Day, Remembrance Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars, and Independence Day. He describes Passover as a template for the Jewish people’s experience over the last 100 years, noting that the story begins with persecution and slavery in Egypt but ends with a declaration of independence.
He draws a parallel between the Haggadah’s narrative and the pattern of these modern observances: Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the “absolute depth” of Jewish history, when, in his words, “Germany led the murderous rampage to wipe us out, while few, if any, other people worldwide rose to our aid.” He likens this to being slaves to “a torrent of evil.”
The Persistence of Jewish Resilience
In his essay, Weiss weaves personal anecdotes and historical references to illustrate what he sees as the continuing relevance of Passover’s message. He recounts the story of Rabbi Yisroel Zev Gustman, whose son Meir was taken by the Nazis and murdered during the Holocaust. He also cites the story of Prof. Yisrael Aumann, whose son Shlomo fell in battle during the Second Lebanon War.
These stories, Weiss suggests, reflect the recurring pattern of attempts to destroy the Jewish people, a pattern he believes remains present in the current war against Iran and its proxies. The article’s tone is somber and inspirational, urging action and vigilance.
Perspectives
The Author’s Viewpoint
Weiss, writing as a personal essayist, conveys a viewpoint that emphasizes Jewish resilience and divine providence. He frames the Passover story as a template for Jewish survival through the ages, and he applies this lens to modern Israeli history and the present conflict. His arguments carry a religious and historical perspective, rooted in his personal experience on the Golan Heights.