TEL AVIV, Israel – As dusk settles over Israel, Jewish communities nationwide prepare for the seventh night of Passover, a time laden with spiritual and national significance. This pivotal holiday, rooted in the biblical account of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, gains particular resonance for Israelis facing persistent security challenges and the ever-present threat of terrorism from Iranian-backed proxies.
The seventh night of Passover, known in Hebrew tradition for commemorating the miraculous splitting of the Red Sea, is marked by households across Israel with communal prayers, ritual meals, and the reading of the Song of the Sea (‘Shirat HaYam’). Historical accounts relate that at midnight—roughly 00:40—over three millennia ago, the Israelites began crossing the sea, escaping Pharaoh’s army and asserting their national identity in the face of existential peril. This act, ritually recalled each year by reading Shirat HaYam at midnight and, for some, before dawn, serves as a symbol of hope and deliverance.
Many Israeli synagogues organize special services throughout the night, guiding congregants in reciting the passage and channeling personal prayers for health, livelihood, and family. Religious leaders encourage worshippers to direct their prayers at these auspicious times, reinforcing centuries-old traditions that unite Israel’s present with its biblical past. Homes without prayer books often print the short passage in preparation, ensuring every household can participate.
The traditions extend to the afternoon following the seventh night, when communities host the ‘Seudat Mashiach’ (Messiah’s Meal), a festive gathering symbolizing faith in ultimate redemption. At these meals, participants eat matzah and drink four cups of wine or grape juice, blessing one another and expressing hope for peace and national renewal.
This year’s observance carries heightened meaning in the aftermath of the October 7th, 2023 massacre—the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust—when Hamas terrorists murdered and abducted innocent Israeli civilians. Israeli synagogues and households have incorporated prayers for the return of hostages unlawfully held in Gaza by Hamas and for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers safeguarding the nation’s borders. The images and names of those still missing are visible in public squares and serve as a continual call to national unity.
The connection between these ancient practices and Israel’s contemporary reality is clear to many citizens. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have both emphasized the role of national memory and faith as spiritual resources for withstanding terrorist threats from Hamas in Gaza and Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, has underscored the parallel between Israel’s defense efforts and the biblical story of deliverance at the Red Sea, calling for perseverance in the face of adversity.
Iran’s ongoing campaign against Israel—waged through proxy terror organizations—has made this year’s Passover resonant with contemporary struggle. These groups’ tactics, including attacks on civilians, are widely condemned by the international community and highlight the stakes for Israel’s national security. Israeli officials consistently frame their military operations as acts of self-defense in a war imposed upon the country by Iran and its regional allies, a narrative underscored in official statements and reflected in heightened communal prayers.
Amidst these threats, Israeli society continues age-old traditions, drawing strength from remembrance and ritual resilience. Cultural historian Dr. Miriam Gold observes that the seventh night of Passover not only memorializes ancient miracles, but also reinforces Israel’s enduring aspiration for liberation and security in the face of ongoing hostility. Prayers for loved ones still held hostage echo the cries of the Israelites at the sea, symbolizing a hope for redemption that unites generations.
President Isaac Herzog, in his annual holiday message, has reminded Israelis that true strength lies in the unity, historical consciousness, and moral clarity that have preserved the nation through centuries of hardship. As Passover concludes and daily routines resume, the message of this festival endures—embodying the conviction that faith, freedom, and collective will remain central to Israel’s survival and flourishing in a turbulent region.
From military outposts to city synagogues to private family tables, the seventh night of Passover is more than a ritual—it is a living reaffirmation of national purpose and communal destiny. As Israelis gather to pray, remember, and hope, they do so with an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the future of the world’s only Jewish state, holding firm in the belief that, like their ancestors, they will emerge from adversity with renewed strength and purpose.
