As the Hebrew month of Nisan begins, we enter the season of Passover, the time in the Jewish calendar that celebrates liberation, renewal, and the courage to begin again. Nisan is the month of spring, a time when the world itself reflects the possibility of new life and new direction. In Jewish tradition, this is the month of redemption, when we remember the Exodus from Egypt and the journey from slavery to freedom.
The Torah tells the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt in haste (Exodus 12–15), without time to prepare, without certainty about what lay ahead, and without knowing exactly how their journey would unfold. They packed quickly, baked unleavened bread, and stepped into the wilderness with faith that freedom was worth the risk. Their story reminds us that transformation rarely happens when everything feels perfectly ready. Often, growth begins when we take the first step even while we still feel unsure.
Nisan invites us to reflect on the meaning of freedom in our own lives. Freedom is not only about physical release, but also about emotional and spiritual space — the ability to move forward, to let go of what has held us back, and to trust that change is possible. Just as the Israelites had to leave behind what was familiar, we too sometimes need courage to step away from old patterns in order to grow.
One of the most powerful moments in the Exodus story is the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. Tradition teaches that the waters did not part until someone was willing to step forward first. According to midrash, Nachshon walked into the sea before it opened, trusting that the path would appear. His courage reminds us that faith is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward despite it.
The beginning of Nisan encourages us to notice where we are being called to take a first step — toward healing, toward honesty, toward connection, or toward a new beginning we may not feel fully prepared for. The season of Passover teaches that redemption begins not when everything is certain, but when we choose to move forward with trust.
The rhythm of the Jewish year reminds us that freedom is not only a historical memory, but an ongoing journey. Each year, as Nisan arrives, we are invited to ask ourselves where we need courage, where we need faith, and where we are ready to begin again.
Shabbat Table Questions for this week
- The Israelites had to leave Egypt quickly, with no time to let their bread rise. Have you ever had to take a leap before you felt fully ready?
- What does freedom mean to you — not just physical, but emotional or spiritual freedom?
- The splitting of the sea happened after someone (Nachshon) stepped into the water first. When have you needed courage to take the first step?
As we enter the month of Nisan, may we find the courage to take the first step, the faith to trust the journey, and the wisdom to recognize the moments of freedom unfolding in our lives
