In a bi-annual celebration of the journey from oppression to justice through the Passover Seder ritual, we honor the workers and faith leaders dedicated to improving the lives of low-income working families.
"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. And you cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.
- Cesar Chavez, President, United Farm Worker of America, 1966
Remember a great struggle for freedom and dignity
The Passover story, the journey from bondage to liberation, continues to be written through the evolving history of humanity. It's not about an event that happened four thousand years ago, rather, Passover is the oppression of low-wage working families. It's about a fair wage for an honest day's work rather than poverty wages.
"The stranger that sojourns with you shall be unto you as the native
among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for you were
strangers in the land of Mitzrayim: I am the Lord."
- Leviticus 19:34
Remember that the struggle for human freedom never stops.
We retell the Exodus story from bondage to liberation and its relationship to the struggles of low-wage working people to improve the lives of their families, their co-workers, and their communities. The story of Passover is rich with imagery and meaning for people of faith. Complete with persecution, oppressive taskmasters, impossible work demands, work quotas, and a struggle for freedom; the Passover story touches the very soul of those who see themselves as struggling to improve the lot of workers. You can find the entire Exodus story in the Hebrew Bible, in the first fifteen chapters of the book of Exodus.
"The way to the Promised Land is through the wilderness. There is no way to get there except by joining together and marching."
- Michael Walzer, in Exodus and Revolution
Remember those in our midst who struggle every day for dignity and freedom - especially economic freedom.
Our San Diego Labor Seder celebrates the deep bonds between the San Diego faith communities and low-wage working families. The relationship between these communities has been strengthened in the last several years by a common commitment to worker justice. We bless our low-wage workers, recognizing the contribution that they make to our diverse communities. Though it is highly unlikely that these workers would compare themselves to Moses or Miriam, we see that they are truly called to service and that their commitment to low-income working families approaches a holy mission.
For more information about the San Diego Labor Seder, hosted biannually by the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, please contact us at Info@ICWJ.org.
