During this season of freedom, the people of Tibet are groaning — and the world hears their cries.

Since 1950, the Chinese military has brutally occupied Tibet. Hundreds of thousands have died. Thousands have been jailed, tortured, raped. Countless monasteries have been destroyed.

And now, as the Chinese Olympic torch is met with protests around the globe, we call on you to join the effort to shed light on Tibet’s suffering by extinguishing a torch of your own.

We call on all Jews to include an unlit candle on their Seder Tables this year. The candle symbolizes both the Olympic torch, whose light has been dimmed, and the unmet hopes of a people still living without freedom.

In the Jewish tradition, light symbolizes freedom, hope, and renewal. On Shabbat, Chanukah, and on holidays including Passover, we light candles to shed light into our hearts, thank God for the blessings we enjoy, and commit ourselves to our religion’s ideals of justice and freedom for all.

But for three million Tibetans living under military rule, the light has been extinguished. Tibetans may not freely practice their religion, display their flag, or honor their leader, the Dalai Lama. Doing so puts them at risk of jail, torture, or worse.

The point is not just to have another symbol on your table.  Rather, as with the rest of the Seder, the point is to stimulate discussion and action.  So here are things you can do, beside having the candle on the table:

1.  When your loved ones ask about the unlit candle on the Seder table, talk with them about the Tibetans’ struggle for freedom.   (Here are some readings you might consider, which include facts and information about the situation.)  The first and most important step is to raise consciousness, spread the word, and let people know about this important struggle.

2.  Follow this link to savetibet.org’s “Ways You Can Help Page” including sending letters to leaders, networking, and donating money.

3.  In your public statements, in your letters to members of congress, in your private conversations, and in your political choices, consider making some demands!  Demand that the Chinese government meet with the Dalai Lama, who has condemned all acts of violence, who asks only for autonomy for his people, and who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent efforts. Demand that the Chinese regime immediately lift restrictions on Tibetan religious and political expression. And ask our leaders not to attend the Olympics’ opening ceremony, and our athletes to display symbols of solidarity with Tibet.

In Exodus 3:7, we read that God hears the cries of the oppressed, and acts on their behalf. The Passover story is the result. Now, we must do the same.