Pesach - פסח

Pesach

PESACH – THE PASSOVER

Pesach means the “passing over”, referring to the doors of Jewish people marked with lamb’s blood to protect them from the tenth plague of killing the first born of the Eygptians. This festivalcelebrates the Exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, to freedom in the Promised Land, with the presentation of the Ten Commandments to the people by G-d in between (see Shavout). It is also a celebration of spring, of birth and rebirth (this fits in with the journey from slavery to freedom) and of taking responsibility for yourself, the community and the world.

In the story of the Exodus, Moses leads the Hebrew people to freedom at G-d’s request. At birth, Moses had been placed in a basket and placed amongst the bulrushes in the River Nile, in order to protect him from the law at that time, which was that all newborn boys had to be killed. Moses was found by Pharoah’s daughter and was taken to the palace to be bought up there. Moses’ sister, Miriam, saw what had happened and went home to tell their mother. Moses’ mother went to the palace and became Moses’ nursemaid, which allowed her to see her son grow up.

Moses was told by G-d to ask Pharoah to let the Hebrew people go free from slavery. When Pharoah refused, G-d responded with ten plagues: Blood (the water turned to blood), frogs, lice, wild beasts, cattle disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and finally, the slaying of the first born. It was only after this final plague that Pharoah agreed to set the Hebrew slaves free. The Hebrew people offered sacrifices in thanks to G-d (the pascal lamb, the shank bone of which sits on the Seder Plate). In their haste, they baked their bread for the journey so quickly, that it did not have time to rise. In order to mark this event, we eat matzo (unleavened bread without the yeast that makes it rise) during the Seder and over the whole festival.

Whilst the Hebrews were on their way, Pharoah changed his mind and sent his army to bring the Hebrews back to Eygpt. As the Hebrews reached the Red Sea, G-d performed the miracle of parting it so that the Hebrews could cross. However, as Pharoah’s soldiers attempted to cross it, the waters fell back, drowning them all. Only then were the Hebrews truly free.

Pesach has lots to do with the number four. There are four cups of wine at the Seder (meaning “order”, which refers to the fifteen step ritual that revolves around the Passover dinner), four seasons, four questions and the idea of four children in the Haggadah, inspired by the Torah’s instructions on four occasions, to parents to teach their children the story of Passover. There are also four names for the same celebration, Pesach, which means “passing over”, Chag Ha-matzot, “Festival of Unleavened Breads”, Z’man Cheiruteinu, “The Time of Liberation”, and Chag Ha-aviv, “Festival of Spring”. Lastly, the fifteen steps of the Seder can be broken down into four sections: preparatory prayers and rituals, the telling of the Exodus story, the dinner and the post-meal prayers and songs.

The Haggadah, which means “The Telling”, referring to the recounting of the story of the Exodus, acts as an instruction manual for the conduct of the Seder service.

At the Seder, we celebrate our release from slavery in the land of Egypt and our freedom as a people. In celebrating the Seder, we should all feel as if G-d has saved us. From what can we go free on this Pesach, to make a new beginning* (see Seder Plate Information page), just like the Hebrews did during the Exodus? What forms of slavery bind us from the freedoms of inner peace, happiness and from suffering, today?

These are all personal questions that we should ask ourselves and about which we should think hard so that we can release ourselves from the bondage that prevents our physical, mental and spiritual freedom and wellbeing. Dr Avram Davis wrote, “To be free from anger, hatred and the chains that bind the heart … This is what it means to be free from Mitzrayim (name for Egypt, which means ‘the narrow place’) We should also remember all those who are not yet free. As well as freeing ourselves, we need to kindle within ourselves the desire to work for the freedom of all. So Passover is a celebration of spring, of birth and rebirth, or a journey from slavery to freedom and of taking responsibility for ourselves, the community and the world.

More...