This past week, something amazing happened in Maine that hasn’t happened in a very long time. My younger sister, Devorah Leah, got married in a traditional Hasidic wedding ceremony, the first one to grace these shores in over a decade. More than 500 people came from out of state to attend this special evening in Portland. While the spirited dancing, unique rituals and the beautiful attire are some of the factors that make a Hasidic wedding so special, what makes this ceremony truly meaningful is the intention behind it.

Hasidic wisdom teaches that marriage is not only a new family and household being built, but a new joint sense of meaning and purpose. Couples join together to fulfill a mission that they could not have accomplished separately. This idea of a higher mission and purpose connects beautifully to two upcoming holidays, one well known and the other less familiar.

The first is Passover, the most observed Jewish holiday on the calendar. Passover celebrates the Jewish people’s freedom from slavery in ancient Egypt. Part of Passover’s widespread appeal is its celebration of freedom, something that everyone, religious or not, can relate to.

Traditionally, people have viewed freedom as being “from” something: freedom from oppression, slavery or tyranny. However, Passover also celebrates a second type of freedom, which is a “freedom to.” This deeper dimension of freedom involves living in accordance with our highest mission and purpose.

Consider someone experiencing severe financial hardships. Once they achieve freedom from these constraints, they might feel free temporarily. But without a sense of purpose, they aren’t totally free. They’ve achieved real freedom once they can pursue meaningful endeavors that align with their values and God-given gifts. This “freedom to” can manifest as the freedom to create, to serve, to learn, to connect, to grow spiritually, and to discover one’s unique talents — the freedom to fulfill what we were put on this Earth to accomplish.

The first Hasidic wedding in Maine in over a decade brought with it a reminder of the true meaning of Passover.

This brings us to another significant but lesser-known holiday: Education and Sharing Day USA. On April 9, the federal government recognized Education and Sharing Day, an annual holiday established in 1978 under President Jimmy Carter to honor the profound legacy of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, whose revolutionary educational philosophy transformed millions of lives worldwide.

Education and Sharing Day emphasizes the Rebbe’s vision that education must nurture not just the mind but also the soul. The Rebbe taught that every child possesses infinite potential, and our educational systems should help children identify their unique gifts to express this boundless capacity.

When we read troubling statistics about rising youth unemployment, widespread feelings of meaninglessness among younger generations and increasing technological isolation, Education Day reminds us of our responsibility to nurture the next generation to feel a sense of meaning and purpose, and ultimately to become kind, caring people — what we call in Yiddish “menschen.” The Rebbe envisioned a system where every child understood their infinite value, empowering them to become creative, productive and contributory members of society.

This educational philosophy mirrors the message of Passover — that true freedom comes when we discover our purpose. By identifying one’s sense of meaning and purpose, people can pursue their higher calling and experience true liberty. This transcends mere self-actualization; it’s about living inspired, holy, godly lives. Each person, regardless of their circumstances, can experience a life of depth, meaning and purpose.

This year, Chabad of Maine is hosting two community seders in Portland on April 12 and 13 at 8:30 p.m., featuring homemade food, warmth, laughter and handmade Shmurah Matzah. If you need Matzah for your own Passover celebration, we would be delighted to send you a box. Our seders welcome Jewish people of all backgrounds and denominations.

Whether you live here or are visiting, whether you speak Hebrew or not, and whether this is your first Passover or your hundredth, there’s a seat for you at our seder. Come experience a night of questions, meaning and nourishment for body, mind and soul.

At the seder’s conclusion, we recite, “Next year in Jerusalem.” Beyond its literal meaning, this expresses hope for a spiritual Jerusalem — an age where all can be truly free, not only from disease, poverty and tyranny but free to live in accordance with our highest good. May this year, each person, regardless of background, be able to experience the same liberation our ancestors felt — not just freedom from limitations, but freedom to fulfill their divine potential.