Our Passover story is a complex tale that addresses over 400 years of history. There is one modern ritual that typically occurs during the middle of the seder that celebrates our freedom. Many Reform and liberal Jews pour water into a cup to remember Miriam, a prophet and leader of our community in her own right.

On my first Shabbat as the newest student rabbi at Temple Beth Ha-Shalom, a small Reform congregation in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, I introduced myself, began learning names, and met congregants for the very first time. As I was speaking with some members, I heard a young boy exclaim to his father: “Dad, the rabbi is a man!  I thought only women could be rabbis?”