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The holiday is usually a celebration of the liberation of ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But for many Israelis, the suffering of the captives still in Gaza is tempering the joy.
By Adam Rasgon and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad
Adam Rasgon reported from Jerusalem, and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad from Haifa, Israel.
April 12, 2025Updated 9:42 a.m. ET
When Yona Schnitzer, a marketing writer from Tel Aviv, attended the traditional Passover Seder meal last year, he said a special prayer for the return of all of the hostages still being held by Palestinian militants in Gaza.
He had thought their freedom would be secured by Passover 2025, but that did not happen.
“It’s become so normalized that there are hostages in Gaza,” said Mr. Schnitzer, 36. “It’s surreal and heartbreaking.”
On Saturday evening, Israelis will observe the beginning of Passover, the weeklong Jewish festival of freedom, for the second time since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war in Gaza. The holiday is usually a celebration of the biblical story of the ancient Israelites being liberated from slavery in Egypt, with families gathering to retell that story, sing songs and eat special foods.
But for many Israelis, the continuing captivity of the hostages has made it difficult to feel the joy of the holiday.
“We will mark the holiday. We won’t celebrate it,” said Orly Gavishi-Sotto, 47, a college administrator from northern Israel. “We can only celebrate when all the hostages are home.”
Ms. Gavishi-Sotto said her family would put an empty chair at the Seder table, symbolizing the hostages in Gaza who could not be with their families.
