Passover reminds us the only way out is through.

Our tradition tells us that after the Exodus, our ancestors faced an arduous, seemingly impossible period. Mitzrayim, the narrow place of Egypt’s slavery and tyranny, was all they knew. Only the vast desert lay ahead. But still, they journeyed toward a chance at liberation. A chance, because they had never seen it themselves.

They needed to believe that something better was on the other side. Along with some Egyptians and many others who sought a better life, an erev rav or mixed multitude, they embarked.

The only way out was through.

Today, we face an arduous, seemingly impossible period in our country’s history. Tyrants attempt to rule through fear and division, threatening the promise of our democracy and harming our neighbors. As American Jews, the pain of the present moment is familiar from our history. We witness bigotry and violence against our people, and often bigotry and violence against other people perpetrated falsely in our name.

Once again, it’s difficult to see something better on the other side. But we must reach liberation, which only exists when we get there. So like our ancestors, we know…

The only way out is through.

This Passover, we keep going, along with all those under the increasing threat or daily reality of oppression. The path ahead is as vast as the desert, but we commit to the journey. We will protect each other along the way, along with our neighbors.

Because as Jews and as Americans, we need to believe that a promised land — a country where all of us are safe and have what we need — is possible.

And we can only reach it together.