April 4, 2020 “This is the Bread of Affliction” Passover Hagaddah

Thoughts on a crisis: Fascinating to watch the administration dragged into, for instance, acknowledging the gravity of the Covid-19 crisis or invoking the Defense Production Act, after first disputing the need for so many ventilators. A Kol HaKavod to Democrats for holding out for protections restricting corporations from using emergency disaster funds for purposes other than employee retention and essential activities, unlike the 2017 corporate tax cut that indulged pervasive stock buybacks/dividend increases. Everywhere, the most needy are the most vulnerable. The extraordinary SBA disaster loan program will support lots of workers – of income levels up to $100K; yet while the $2 Trillion CARES Act includes a 50% increase in SNAP (already exhausted), it offers a pittance for now desperate food banks. Fortunately, the House Families First Act (significantly diluted by the Senate) permits Women/Infants/Children (WIC) and Food Stamp waivers. Cleveland Jewish agencies are largely still staffed and brilliantly prioritizing needed services. Our sages describe matzoh both as Bread Affliction and Bread of Redemption. May we all soon be redeemed from this terrifying affliction. May you be blessed with a Happy and Safe Passover.