The Empty Chair
In twilight’s glow as candles shine,
We gather ‘round the Seder table, divine.
With matzah flat and bitter herbs arrayed,
We tell the tale of how our freedom was made.
From Pharoah’s bonds our ancestors fled,
Across the parted sea, by Moses led.
Tonight we dip and bless and drink the wine,
As April stars above our homes align.
But see—an empty chair awaits with grace,
For Elijah’s spirit, or a stranger’s face.
“Let all who hunger come and feast,” we say,
These words transform mere ritual into way.
For Passover’s truth lies not in ceremony alone,
But in the seeds of giving that we’ve sown.
Ma’ot Chitim—money for wheat we share,
That none should know the ache of cupboards bare.
What joy is freedom if we stand alone?
What worth our feast if others hunger groan?
The bread of affliction breaks sweeter when
We extend our hands to fellow women and men.
This is the cry of the liberated soul:
To heal, to help, to make the broken whole.
Not just these two nights, but throughout our days,
We lift ourselves when others we raise.
The happiest hearts are not those that possess,
But those that give without thought of excess.
From Egyptian night to freedom’s bright shore,
Our story whispers: love and give evermore.
So as we recline and four questions ask,
As bitter turns sweet—our freedom’s great task—
Remember the chair where angels might rest,
In giving to others, we too are blessed.
Remembering that Passover is not just traditional, but the more I give the more I have.
Herbert A. Wertheim is an American optometrist, inventor, and philanthropist. He is the founder and president of Brain Power Incorporated. He has been chairman of the Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family Foundation since 1977.
