Thousands of years ago, a mob left slavery, and we haven’t shut up about it since. Why do we tell the same story every year?
Because if we didn’t, we might believe that slavery was inevitable. We might think that, every time we found ourselves in an oppressive system, that was the way things had always been, and the way they always had to be. We would be trapped in a mindset of defeat.
But sometimes we win.
Once, millennia ago, enslaved people were able to bring the world’s greatest empire to its knees. With an outstretched hand and awe-inspiring deeds, they showed that their God of justice was stronger than the might of armies. And now we will never forget it.
Since 7 October, I have spent so many nights awake. I have stayed up crying, unable to sleep. Even when I do sleep, the war haunts my dreams. I cannot expunge my soul of thinking about starvation in Gaza, land grabs in the West Bank, all those held hostage and in administrative detention, and the concerted attacks on anyone who dares speak up…..more
