God established a watershed for the Jewish people and an inheritance of faith to pass on. Passover is known as the watershed event in Jewish history. It was a turning point, a defining moment for the Jewish people. Everything changed for them with Passover. God rescued, preserved, and called them out to be His people in their own land. Immediately upon their departure from Egypt, He instituted the Feast of Passover as an everlasting memorial to the astounding feat of their deliverance.
God set an annual appointment for Israel to intentionally remember what He had done for them in the Passover and Exodus. Thousands of years later, Jewish people commemorate this and tell their children, passing on a legacy of faith in the one true God, just as He commanded them. The final plague in Egypt was the death of the firstborn of all households.
God revealed to Israel the one way they would be spared: They were to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and brush its blood on the lintel and doorposts of their homes.
Only then would the Angel of Death pass over their homes and spare their firstborn. The middle piece of matzah is taken out, broken, and half is put back into the bag. The other half is wrapped in a linen napkin and hidden, to be taken out later, after the meal.
This is called the akifomen. The rabbis have devised a series of object lessons to keep the attention of the little ones during the Passover seder. Each person tastes each item so that they may feel as if they themselves had taken part in the flight from Egypt. The first item taken is the karpas, or greens usually parsley , which is a symbol of life. The parsley is dipped in salt water, a symbol of tears, and eaten, to remind us that life for our ancestors was immersed in tears.
A roasted egg is on the seder plate to bring to mind the roasted daily temple sacrifice that no longer can be offered because the temple no longer stands. In the very midst of the Passover Seder, the Jewish people are reminded that they have no sacrifice to make them righteous before God. This is usually ground horseradish, and enough is eaten with matzah to bring a tear to the eyes.
We cannot appreciate the sweetness of redemption unless we first experience for ourselves the bitterness of slavery. Charoset is a sweet mixture of chopped apples, chopped nuts, honey, cinnamon, and a little Manischewitz grape wine kosher for Passover just for color! This sweet, pasty, brown mixture is symbolic of the mortar that our ancestors used to build bricks in the land of Egypt. Why do we remember an experience so bitter with something so sweet?
The rabbis have a good insight: even the bitterest of labor can be sweet when our redemption draws nigh. This is especially true for believers in the Messiah. In every Jewish home, on every seder plate, is a bare shank bone of a lamb. Normally, when we lack freedom, we need to fight for it, just like how the Jews fought the Egyptians. But to achieve freedom today, we need to stop the pandemic. That means we have to respect laws and health regulations.
Without it, we are like humans without a heart. From this year on, finally, my son will take over this tradition. Every year we read the Passover story. And though we know it well, we learn something new every year. Passover teaches us that freedom comes with a price.
Freedom brings hardship, but we should face it bravely and go ahead in life. This lesson inspires us, year after year, to face obstacles which come in our life.
Only one thing attracted me and that was finding the afikoman. There were many of us children and we were competitive. Of course, our dear grandparents always used to reward not only the one who found the afikoman, but all of us.
I still remember the excitement and anticipation leading up to that particular evening. Just as we left behind all the plagues years ago, in the same way, we hope to leave behind the COVID pandemic and move ahead to a healthy and happy future. For nearly a year, we have not met any community members in person. We have been attending most of the programs online. Passover gives us an opportunity not only to participate in the event itself, but to see our friends and relatives in the community.
Passover is also a reminder of the hardships that our forefathers faced, and a reminder that freedom cannot be achieved easily. Comparing it to our altered lifestyle during the pandemic, it takes us back to the days of our forefathers. Just as we left behind all the plagues years ago, in the same way, we hope to leave behind the COVID pandemic and move ahead to a healthy and happy future, not only for us but for our children, grandchildren, and all our loved ones.
I think we should all try and experience Passover internally this year; we should focus on our own healing and not be sorry for being emotionally unavailable to others for a few days. By focusing on your pain first, you will become a better person and help others get better, too.
Celebrating Passover during lockdown is something that I cherish. I know a lot of people went through some really challenging times during Passover last year, but what stands out to me is that, no matter what, we learn to adapt to new situations. Rituals were revised, Seder prayers were conducted over Zoom, families became closer. So much happened in just a matter of days, something none of us could have even imagined.
My parents, being the early planners that they are, managed to organise everything prior to the lockdown, which was why we had no issues conducting the Seder. I think it serves as a reminder that no matter what happens, we will emerge stronger than we were, and if we want to win the battle against COVID, we have to do it in unison.
Passover teaches us about faith; we need to have faith in God, despite being in a difficult situation. These four questions are:. Unleavened bread or matzo is eaten to remember the Exodus when the Israelites fled Egypt with their dough to which they had not yet added yeast. Bitter herbs, usually horseradish, are included in the meal to represent the bitterness of slavery.
At the beginning of the meal a piece of potato is dipped in salt water to recall the tears the Jews shed as slaves. In ancient times, people who were free reclined on sofas while they ate. Today cushions are placed on chairs to symbolise freedom and relaxation, in contrast to slavery. Usually the youngest person present will ask the questions and the father will respond.
The paradox of this is that these four questions should be asked spontaneously, but celebrations cannot happen unless they are asked! Children are central to Passover proceedings and symbolise the continuity of the Jewish people. Customs are designed to hold their attention.
There's the hunt for the afikomen , where a piece of matzoh is hidden which children have to find and hold 'ransom' until a reward is given. Each of the components of the meal is symbolic. The food is eaten in ritual order and its meaning and symbolism is discussed.
Passover is also called The Festival of Freedom and is a celebration of freedom, not just in Biblical times, but its importance to the individual today and throughout history. Jews believe freedom to be one of the basic human rights. Readings about contemporary slavery or oppression to show solidarity with the oppressed may be included in some traditions although not in Orthodox Jewish households.
Passover can be called the Festival of Spring and was an agricultural festival which marked the beginning of the cycle of production and harvest during the time the Jews lived in ancient Palestine.
Passover is also a pilgrim festival. It is one of the three occasions in the year when, according to the commandments of the Torah , Jews were to go to the Temple in Jerusalem. Passover began as a ceremony celebrated in the home, but once the Jews settled in Jerusalem they constructed the Temple and the celebrations moved there.
Today, Passover celebrations continue to be focussed on the home. This makes Passover the most popular Jewish holiday. Families travel great distances to be together at Passover. In the synagogue there are special readings for each day of the festival. On following days, readings tell of the celebrations after the Children of Israel had crossed the River Jordan; of Moses receiving the 10 Commandments and God's covenant with the Israelites; of the resurrection of the valley of dry bones symbolising the spiritual rebirth of Israel; of the departure from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea; and a summary of the laws and rituals for Passover.
On the last day of Passover a passage from the Book of Isaiah is read which tells of the Messianic era or 'Passover of the Future'. Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled.
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