I’m taking a quick break in the middle of our Passover preparations to share with you what I believe makes the retelling of the Passover story (the Exodus) so compelling, at least in part.

The story is written and told in the first person. "WE were slaves in Egypt …" "With an outstretched arm, G-d guided and protected US as WE left Egypt … this is what G-d did for US …" and so forth.

The Passover story, therefore, isn’t all about them. The Passover story is all about now and all about us — and because it’s written in the first person, the story is made all the more powerful. Because it’s written in the present tense, the miracle and its after effects continue to this very day.

When you’re writing a letter, a blog post where building empathy is necessary, don’t be afraid to use the first person voice to make your case. You can weave in the second person voice later. Establish the bond early. For example, "If you’re like me, chances are …" "Like many women in their early 50s, I also discovered … Perhaps you have, too."

Don’t use the first person to artificially create a sense of intimacy. The astute reader will know it isn’t true. (This is Roberta’s "respect your reader" rant.) But if the connection is genuine, by all means, use it full throttle.

Yesterday we were slaves. Today, we live as free men and women. The miracle is ongoing. L’Shana Tovah – Happy Passover!