In the Pesach (Passover) story, Moses repeatedly went to Pharaoh, imploring him to “Let my people go!” But Pharaoh refused… that is, until his son became the victim of his own evil decree against the Israelites. Only then, in that state of great distress, did Pharaoh set aside his ego and agree to grant freedom to those enslaved for generations.
When the story is shared at seders around the world, it is always told in the second person. The exodus from Egypt didn’t happen to ‘them’; rather, it happened to YOU. It happened to me. Those shackles, mud pits, and heavy stones were burdens we all shared… and, from a kabbalistic perspective, they can still weigh us down, even today.