The message of Passover is that we are not enslaved. Not to a foreign power and neither to the foreign forces that tend to want lock us down from within.
Every person is free by virtue of being created in the Divine image. And when G-d took us out of Egypt he declared, 'The children of Israel are my servants to Me' - subservient to G-d and to no one else. When only G-d is above us, it means we have the full freedom and responsibility to live up to our amazing G-d given potential.
In life, we often make excuses for ourselves and our own shortcomings. Pesach says, no need for excuses, you have the power of personal freedom. Live up to who you can be and who you truly are inside!
The Rebbe taught us that the final barrier we must break in order to bring the Torah's prophesied era of Geulah (Redemption) is the one where we finally learn to overcome our own internal Mitzrayim - our own internal Egypt. When we do, we bring a personal Geulah to our ourselves and soon, as a result, a cascading complete Geulah for all humanity.
L'Chaim, may we open those internal gates and break free as we enjoy the four cups, matzah and delve into the Haggadah!
Wishing you and yours a Happy, Kosher and Redemptive Passover!
Rabbi Yitzchok Schmukler
Director, Chabad of the Bay Area