The empty chair, the empty plate, the empty soup bowl.  Many many Israelis don’t even want to think about the seder coming up because it will remind us of those missing – those in tunnels, in hospitals, in mourning.  Apparently there are more people leaving the country for the holiday today than ever -some because they are stir-crazy, others because they can’t take the thought of enjoying themselves in this situation.  And still others because they are sure all the saber rattling on the part of Trump means something terrible – for us.

so set a place for us at the table, please –