Passover will soon be upon us. It is unique among Jewish holidays in having a major service, the seder, conducted at home. While there is a traditional Haggadah to conduct the service, there are numerous alternative Haggadot, and many people pick and choose from the traditional and the alternatives and sometimes contribute their own prayers and commentaries. As a festival about freedom, oppression, divine intervention, and human agency, there is much to discuss.

For Canadian Jews, concerns of Israel’s survival and domestic antisemitism were top of mind last year. This year, as Jewish Canadians, the threat of American annexation of Canada through force adds to our concerns.

Editorial Assistance

Jewish religious services in the diaspora always include prayers for our elected leaders and our society. Responding to our new challenge and calling upon the tradition of prayer for the secular society we inhabit, I imagined a seder prayer for Canadian sovereignty. I asked ChatGPT to write “a Passover prayer for Jews who are concerned about Canada becoming the fifty-first state of the US,” to quote my request. This is what ChatGPT gave me.

A Passover Prayer for the Sovereignty of Canada

Eternal God,
Who led our ancestors from bondage to freedom,
Who split the sea and made a path through the waters,
We turn to You in this season of liberation,
Seeking wisdom, strength, and hope.

As we recall the miracles of our Exodus,
We cherish the blessings of our land,
A Canada that stands proud and free,
A home for justice, kindness, and peace.

But in these uncertain days,
When whispers of change unsettle our hearts,
And the borders of identity feel blurred,
We pray for clarity, resolve, and vision.

May our leaders be guided by wisdom,
Our people by unity,
And our nation by the values
That have made it a beacon of peace.

Let us never take freedom for granted,
Nor forget the sacred trust we bear—
To guard our sovereignty with dignity,
To build a future of hope, not fear.

As we open our doors to Elijah,
Symbol of redemption and promise,
May we open our hearts to courage,
And our minds to a Canada strong and enduring.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha’Olam,
She’asa nisim la’avoteinu, ba’yamim ha’heim ba’zman ha’zeh—
Blessed are You, Eternal One,
Who performed miracles for our ancestors,
In those days, and in our own time.

Amen.

My Conclusion

I was very impressed by what ChatGPT provided, for several reasons. It uses the cadence and rhythm of Jewish prayer and includes appropriate Passover references. It alludes to the situation in phrases like “uncertain days,” “unsettle our hearts,” and “borders of identity feel blurred.” This is better than referring explicitly to Donald Trump or likening him to a pharaoh. The criticism often made of AI that it is generic and imprecise is, however, a strength in writing a prayer. And the advice offered – vision to guide leaders, unity among citizens, and guarding sovereignty with dignity – rings true. This is too general for a political platform, but entirely appropriate for prayer.

I come away from this exercise thinking that ChatGPT has provided at the very least a valuable starting point for crafting a Passover prayer about Canadian sovereignty.