Introduction
At our seder tonight, we celebrate the Jewish people's journey from slavery to freedom.
But we also must acknowledge that slavery is not just an atrocity of the past. More than
3,000 years after the Jewish people are said to have been liberated from slavery, and 150
years after the Civil War, more people are enslaved today than at any other point in
history. Tonight, we will not just ask "Why is tonight different than all other nights?" but
"Why are so many people still denied freedom and what can we do about it?"
The Four Questions of Modern Slavery
Q:
A:
How many people are found in slavery today?
The United States State Department estimates that between 12 and 27 million people are enslaved today.
There are no accurate figures for victims of human trafficking for the United States, but it is estimated to
be in the tens of thousands, both foreign nationals (here legally and illegally) and American citizens.
Q:
A:
Where are modern slaves found?
Modern slavery cases have been prosecuted among domestic workers, farm workers, prostitution, and laborers
of many kinds. Modern slavery includes, but is not limited to, forced labor and debt bondage, forced prostitution,
use of child soldiers, and involuntary domestic servitude. Victims of modern slavery can be trafficked across
borders or within their own countries and communities. Slavery is a violation of human dignity and human rights.
Q:
A:
But I don't own any slaves! Am I also responsible for modern slavery?
The Department of Labor releases an annual report of goods that contain forced labor, child labor, or both
in their supply chain. Slavery is found in all manner of products, from cocoa in the Ivory Coast to cotton
from Uzbekistan to tomatoes grown in Florida. Many companies buy their raw materials from third parties
and may not be aware of the slavery in their supply chain.
Q:
A:
If modern slaves aren't chained up, why don't they escape?
Persons who are trafficked are not necessarily slaves who are chained up or locked behind a door. Human
trafficking is also characterized by limits on mobility and threats of violence to prevent escape. Employers
may steal passports, use violence or threats of violence against the trafficked persons and/or their families
should they escape. Slaves may also be deeply in debt to their traffickers and fear that their families may be
held liable for their debts if they escape.
V
PASSO
TASTE
ER
Activity Directions: Cut out the cards below and fold them in half so that the pictures of the items (i.e. “Matzah”) are facing up.
Work as a group to guess how many slaves are involved in production of the different items around the Seder table. Flip the
cards over to reveal the true number of slaves. Discuss the results as a group.
Numbers provided by Slavery Footprint. For an explanation of methodology go to slaveryfootprint.org/about/#methodology
Hard
Boiled
Egg
.2
Slaves
Matzah
.5
Slaves
Beef
.2
Slaves
Dining
Room
Set
2
Slaves
Horseradish
.3
Slaves
Charoset
.9
Slaves
Lettuce
.3
Slaves
Shankbone
.1
Slaves
Wine
.1
Slaves
Salt
.1
Slaves
Orange
.1
Slaves
Celery
.2
Slaves
PRODUCED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP OF SLAVERY FOOTPRINT AND RABBIS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - NORTH AMERICA
Next Year In A World Without Slavery
When faced with a problem as overwhelming as slavery, we may feel helpless, but
we're not. Just as the Israelites in Egypt had to imagine a world in which they were
free, we must imagine a world without slavery. What are some things we can do?
Here are some suggestions, but feel free to add your own and tweet them to
#slaveryfootprintseder!
Spot the signs. Learn human trafficking red flags and ask follow up questions so that you
can detect a potential trafficking situation. Visit: www.state.gov/j/tip/id/index.htm
Report human trafficking. In the United States, report your suspicions to the National
Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888. Victims, including undocumented
individuals, are eligible for services and immigration assistance.
Shop smart. Be a conscientious consumer. Make socially responsible investments. Learn how
your everyday life is connected to slavery by learning your slavery footprint and let your favorite
retailers know that you support their efforts to maintain a slavery free supply chain. One way this
can be done is through the interactive website Slavery Footprint at www.slaveryfootprint.org
Be an ethical employer. Encourage your company or your employer to take steps to
investigate and eliminate human trafficking throughout its supply chain and to publish the
information for consumer awareness, ensuring you are not part of the demand for slave-made
goods. Pay a living wage to your workers and ensure that contract employees are not being taken
advantage of or exploited.
Support services for survivors and donate your time. Raise funds for an
anti-trafficking organization or donate needed goods (check with them first to find out what they
need!), and volunteer your professional services. Many organizations need help from lawyers,
doctors, dentists, counselors, translators and interpreters, graphic designers, public relations and
media professionals, event planners, and accountants.
About Slavery Footprint
Slavery Footprint, a non-profit organization, has created a website that allows people to visualize how
their consumption habits are connected to modern-day slavery. Through our online action center and
“Free World” mobile app, we provide consumers an outlet to voice their demands for products made
without slave labor; a demand that manufacturers need to hear. We are collectively calling for the
ability to buy things “Made In A Free World.”
Based in Oakland, California, the Slavery Footprint team works to engage individuals, groups, and
businesses to build awareness for and create deployable action against forced labor, human trafficking,
and modern-day slavery. In addition to creating and developing the online tools, the organization is
also engaged in off-line community education and mobilization programs.
About Rabbis for Human Rights-North America
Rabbis for Human Rights – North America (RHR-NA) is an organization of rabbis from all streams of
Judaism that acts on the Jewish imperative to respect and protect the human rights of all people.
RHR-NA mobilizes the Jewish community to fight slavery and human trafficking. The core narrative
of the Jewish people is a story of slavery and liberation, which we tell each Passover around our Seder
table. But telling the story is not enough: we must also ensure the end of slavery in our own time.
RHR-NA raises awareness in Jewish communities of the persistence of slavery, trains rabbis to
support the rights workers at risk of exploitation, and leads national Jewish organizations in legislative
endeavors to fight human trafficking. We serve as a Jewish ally organization of the Coalition of
Immokalee Workers, whose Campaign for Fair Food works to end abusive conditions (including
forced labor) in the Florida tomato industry. RHR-NA is proud to partner with Slavery Footprint as
part of our efforts to draw attention to the problem of slavery in the modern supply chain.