In brief
Many Israelis express sorrow as they prepare for the weeklong festival, with empty chairs symbolizing the hostages missing from their celebrations.
In Tel Aviv, the annual Passover Seder—a meal filled with traditional prayers and joyous retellings of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt—is clouded this year by the tragic reality of hostages still held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. For Yona Schnitzer, a marketing writer, this year’s observance is tinged with heartache, reflecting on how the anticipated release of captives remains unfulfilled since the violent outbreak initiated by the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.“There’s a surreal quality to knowing hostages remain in Gaza, it’s heartbreaking,” said Schnitzer, adding a prayer for their safe return. As Israelis prepare to mark the start of Passover on Saturday evening, the emotional burden and normalization of captivity weigh heavily on many. For Orly Gavishi-Sotto, a college administrator from northern Israel, the holiday lacks its celebratory spirit until all hostages are released. “We will mark the holiday; we won't celebrate it,” she stated. Her family plans to honor the missing by placing an empty chair at the Seder table, a poignant reminder of those unable to join their loved ones. As the festival of freedom commences, the absence of many and the still unresolved fate of captives cast a long shadow over what is meant to be a season of joy and hope for liberation.
