Rabbi Sacks on Pesach

The festival of Passover (Pesach) lasts for seven days in Israel, and eight days in the Diaspora. Pesach starts with an evening full of rituals, symbols and storytelling, as Jews all around the world re-visit the momentous exodus from Egypt and their first steps in their journey towards their own land.

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For the next Pesach we celebrate, the first night of Passover will begin on Saturday night, 12 April 2025 (motsei Shabbat, 15 Nissan 5785).

Discover Pesach through the thought of Rabbi Sacks, by browsing the Seder Companion as well as other articles, videos, quotes, and resources.


Rabbi Sacks Videos on Pesach

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The Story We Tell

When you read the Pesach story, you come across something so remarkable it's almost counterintuitive...

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From Freedom to Responsibility

At the launch of the Koren Sacks Pesach Machzor, Rabbi Sacks delivered this inspiring keynote shiur.

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Rambam's Guide for the Perplexed on Seder Night

With meaningful insights into Rambam's perspective on Seder night.

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What do Pesach and Hamilton Have in Common?

Freedom is not won in a single moment. It needs to be fought for in every generation...

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Shabbat HaGadol and Pesach Inspiration

Recorded by Rabbi Sacks ahead of Pesach 2020, during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

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The Haggada's Politics

A conversation with Senator Joseph Lieberman tracing the Haggada from then to now.

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A More Meaningful Holiday

The more we understand the Passover holiday, the more meaningful it will be for us...

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Ways of Counting Time

A shiur on what Rabbi Sacks called The Omer Controversy, delivered at Aish HaTorah.

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The Spirituality of Song

On Chol Hamoed Pesach 2020, Rabbi Sacks, Ishay Ribo and Sivan Rahav Meir held a very special online encounter...


Resources for the Seder Table

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Pesach: The Family Edition

A resource from our Ceremony & Celebration Family Edition series, for intergenerational learning about the chag.

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Short Thoughts for Pesach

These beautiful quote cards can enhance your Seder night with succinct, powerful ideas directly from Rabbi Sacks.

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Seder Night Scavenger Hunt

This engaging Pesach activity is designed for teens and adults to use on Seder night.



Listen and Learn

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A New Concept of Freedom

On why freedom has been misunderstood over so many generations.

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A Seder Night That Changed History

Taught to the students at Kollel Yom Rishon in 2010.

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B’Chol Dor v’Dor

This keynote address at The Jewish Center in New York explores the challenge of antisemitism from the Haggadah to now.


Read the Pesach Essays and Articles

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Finding Freedom

Koren Publishers offer the full essay on freedom from the Rabbi Sacks Haggadah.

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The Cup of Hope

An essay published in the Jonathan Sacks on the meaning of the cup of wine we leave for Eliyahu HaNavi.

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The Unasked Question

Pesach is a night of questions, but there is one we do not often ask, and it is significant...

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Women and the Exodus

An essay published in the Jonathan Sacks Haggada

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Writing My Own Chapter

From the Covenant & Conversation series, this piece on Bo explores what it means to be a Jewish person, with links to our heritage.

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The Far Horizon

What inspirational speech did Moshe give to Bnei Yisrael when they first left Egypt, and what can this teach us about leadership?

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Pesach and the Jewish Task

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The Common Good, and Isolation

How Natan Sharansky's message of surviving the Gulag could enhance our Pesach in times of struggle.

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Pesach Lessons for Those Fighting for Freedom

Published in The Times newspaper, April 2011.


Seder Night Companion: Family Editions


Books