Final Blooms
Passover is a celebration of spring and a reminder of what it means to live free.
Passover is an eight-day Jewish holiday that began at sundown last Saturday evening. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is marked by the family Seder meal, which includes four cups of wine, the eating of matzah and bitter herbs, and the retelling of the Exodus story. The Chabad religious organization encapsulates this narrative beautifully:
“As told in the Bible, after many decades of slavery to the Egyptian pharaohs, during which the Israelites endured backbreaking labor and unbearable horrors, G‑d saw the people’s distress and sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: ‘Send forth My people, so that they may serve Me.’ Despite numerous warnings, Pharaoh refused to heed G‑d’s command. Consequently, G‑d unleashed ten devastating plagues upon Egypt, afflicting them and destroying everything from livestock to crops.
At the stroke of midnight on 15 Nissan in the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), G‑d visited the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians, killing all their firstborn. G‑d spared the children of Israel, thereby “passing over” their homes—hence the name of the holiday. Pharaoh’s resistance was ultimately broken, and he virtually chased his former slaves out of the land. The Israelites left in such haste that the bread they had prepared did not have time to rise. Six hundred thousand adult males, along with many women and children, departed Egypt that day, beginning their journey to Mount Sinai and their establishment as G‑d’s chosen people.”
Though I am a practicing Unitarian, I was raised in a Jewish family and continue to observe many of the religion’s customs, including the Seder. For this practice to hold meaning, I find it essential to reflect on the issue of slavery as it exists in our world today. I am consistently shocked by its prevalence. According to the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, an estimated 50 million people are victims of involuntary servitude.
The most common forms of modern-day slavery include:
- Child Labor: Minors (under 18) are forced to work against their will.
- Sex Trafficking: Individuals are coerced into sexual activities. In the U.S., there were 7,500 reported cases of sex trafficking in 2021, primarily involving pornography, illicit massage and spa businesses, the hotel sector, and residence-based commercial sex. Vulnerable children may come from homelessness, the foster care system, unstable family situations, or identify as members of the LGBTQI+ community. The pandemic increased these risks, as children lost access to protective environments like schools.
- Debt Bondage: Victims are compelled to pay off debts, a situation that often leaves migrants particularly vulnerable to forced labor.
- Domestic Servitude: This occurs in private households, where domestic workers are often exploited through passport withholding, physical and verbal abuse, and isolation. The Internet has emerged as a primary tool for soliciting buyers in sex trafficking cases.
- Forced Labor: Adults (18 and older) are required to work involuntarily. In the U.S., much of this forced labor is seen within the prison system, which has the largest prison population in the world. This burden disproportionately affects people of color. Additionally, forced labor among unaccompanied migrant children is alarmingly high.
- Forced Marriage: Victims are compelled to marry without their consent, with approximately 28 million people affected worldwide. In the U.S., forced marriage among children is well-documented and remains legal in eight states. A study from 2021 revealed that nearly 300,000 children were legally married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018, with 96 percent involving children aged 16 to 17, and some married as young as 10.
Countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery include North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. The G20 nations are not far behind: India (11 million), China (5.8 million), Russia (1.9 million), Indonesia (1.8 million), Türkiye (1.3 million), and the United States (1.1 million) are all implicated.
G20 nations contribute to the issue of modern slavery by permitting forced labor within global supply chains. While traditionally associated with industries like mining, logging, and textile manufacturing, forced labor is increasingly evident in renewable sectors critical for the transition to clean energy. Climate change exacerbates modern slavery, displacing millions and making them more susceptible to exploitation.
Some countries, such as Australia, Canada, Germany, and Norway, have enacted legislation to hold businesses and governments accountable for exploitation. I wonder why the United States has not followed suit. Are Americans truly so indifferent? Do we have the right to celebrate our freedom during Passover while millions remain enslaved around the world?
As we gather for Seder, let us reflect on the meaning of freedom and the responsibility we have to advocate for those still in chains.
I look forward to your comments on by blog site at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/blog/200598/passover-and-freedom
Art is always for sale, Final Blooms is an acrylic painting , 12” by 36” on deep canvas. Available for $ 359. Purchase on my website at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/5287595/final-blooms#/. Questions? contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com
References:
Website. (2025) What is Passover (Pesach0? Chabad.org. Retrieved from https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover-Pesach.htm
Website, (2022) 50 million people worldwide in modern slavery. International Labour Organization. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/50-million-people-worldwide-modern-slavery-0
Website (2023) The Global Slavery Index 2023. Reliefweb. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/world/global-slavery-index-2023
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