Dear Friends,
We at the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims extend heartfelt greetings to our Jewish brothers and sisters who are celebrating Passover beginning today at sundown.
Passover commemorates the Jewish exodus from Egypt when an enslaved people achieved freedom from their oppressors. The Passover message of freedom from oppression is not confined to the Jewish faith. It is a universal message. Today, too many are suffering under oppression from war, dictatorship, occupation, religious, racial and gender discrimination and the grinding hopelessness of poverty.
In the biblical text, God is described as freeing the Jewish people from their oppressors with an outstretched arm. In the spirit of Passover, we can all, with an outstretched arm, reach out to those facing immense challenges, demonstrating our commitment to end the suffering in all communities.
We can be citizen ambassadors, role models to those with power and influence, sharing our common aspiration for light instead of darkness; love instead of hate; hope instead of despair. It is a message that resonates through the ages!
Yours in peace and friendship,
Shahid Akhtar and Barbara Landau, Cochairs,
Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims
589 Silverthorne Crescent, Mississauga, Ontario L5R 1W7
Email: shahidakhtar1@rogers.com – Phone: (905) 7122872
Email: blandau@coopsolutions.ca – Phone: (416) 3913110
