How can we have a seder?  The seder is to remind us about freedom, and not only are the 133 hostages still imprisoned and enslaved, but so are all of the population of Israel.  We are all traumatized, functioning on neutral, trying not to despise the people who have murdered us and managed to make us into the villains. 

The Hagaddah is so clear.  It makes sure we know who are the good guys and the bad guys.  Even when Pharoah relents, he regrets it and has to be reminded who the boss is.  So we know he’s really really bad.

And it’s not our fault that he’s being punished.  It is the Lord who’s doing the punishing.  We’re just the victims.

 Ah, the good old days.

But seriously, we’re not only leaving a place for the hostages at our table, we’re wearing shirts with their pictures on it.  So we’ll be making sure we remind ourselves that we’re not free even as we read about freedom.

Maybe we should stop being such masochists and label the villains as villains.  You know if they had succeeded in their plan on October 7 we would not be having a seder at all tomorrow.