PASSOVER

A

pril 14, 1987, the first night of Passover, was the date freedom came 
to my mother, Remy Sweet, who was enslaved as a domestic servant 
far from her native land. For her, it was truly the most zissen “sweet” 
Pesach.
“The day I finally had legal immigration status in this country is something 
I will never forget,
” said my mom, who adds that all the experiences she over-
came on her own personal journey to freedom culminated on 
that first night of Passover.
This date serves as a symbol of 
my parents’ love, their hope for 
a promising future and miracles 
beyond belief. In short, this date is 
my mom’s Independence Day. 

EARLY LIFE 
Before my mom was happily mar-
ried to my father, Ben Sweet, she was a young 
woman in search of safety. Born and raised in the 
Philippines, my mom was the eldest of nine kids. 
She was reared in a home where food was scarce, 
but love was abundant. She naturally had a sense 
of leadership and maternal care for her younger 
siblings. 

35 years ago, my mom — a human trafficking 
survivor — celebrated her first Pesach 
as a free woman. 

A Modern-Day 
Passover Miracle

54 | APRIL 14 • 2022 

“I was still living with [the 
traffickers] when this 
picture was taken. 
I got to dress up and 
play nice because they 
were having company 
over. I even made 
the shirt I am 
wearing myself.”

Rachel 
Sweet 
Associate 
Editor