History, Ritual and Symbolism Involved in Passover

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is the celebration of freedom for the Jewish people. The story of Passover can be found in the Torah’s second book, Exodus. The Jews were slaves of the Pharaoh in Egypt. They were forced to build his monuments and cities, or face death. Moses was the leader of these enslaved people. He demanded that Pharaoh release his people from their bondage, or face the wrath of their God. When Pharaoh refused, God brought many plagues upon the land of Egypt. Pharaoh still would not release the Jews. God then brought down the final plague on Egypt: He killed all Egyptian first-born sons. Moses instructed the Jews to slaughter a lamb and to mark the outside of their homes with its blood so that God would know to pass over the house, and leave the children inside unharmed. This is how the holiday of Passover received its name. It celebrates the “passing over” of the Jewish households, and the subsequent freedom they received.

After the final plague, Pharaoh released the Jews. Moses led them on the path to their Promised Land. However, before they got far, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his cavalry after them. When Moses and the Jews reached the Red Sea, the Egyptian cavalry was nearly upon them. Through Moses, God parted the waters of this sea and the Jews ran through to the other side, with the Egyptian cavalry pursuing them. Once all the Jews had crossed, the sea came crashing down on the cavalry, decimating Pharaoh’s forces, and allowing the Jews safe passage to the Promised Land, and freedom. God commanded that in order for the events in Egypt to be remember for all time, that a holiday must be observed be every Jew every year.

Ritual
(NOTE: For the purposes of this article, the ritual described below is that of Orthodox Jews.)

Passover is an eight-day festival. The first and last two days are days of heightened observance. The celebration runs from sundown on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nissan until sundown on the 22nd day of Nissan. (For 2006, this correlates with April 12-20.) During Passover, no leavening agents, such as yeast, are allowed in the home of a Jew. On 13 Nissan, the day before the festival begins, the leavening agents, or chametz, are to be removed from the home.

At sundown on 14 Nissan, the celebration begins. The Passover candles are lit, and the first Seder is held. The Seder is the meal served during Passover, consisting of many traditional dishes that hold symbolic meaning for the Jews. The Exodus story is told to the children present, and four glasses of wine are consumed. The first night of Passover is called liel shimurim in Hebrew, which translates to “A Night of Guarding.” 15 Nissan marks the first full day of Passover. The Passover candles are again lit, and the second Seder takes place, in much the same way as the first.

Nightfall on 16 Nissan marks the beginning of Passover’s Intermediate Days, or chol hamoed in Hebrew. During this time few work restrictions apply, so the Jews may go about their usual workday activities in most cases. During this time, they continue to eat only foods that are Kosher for Passover, and it is customary to drink a glass of red win or grape juice each day to celebrate the festival. The Intermediate Days last until sundown on 20 Nissan.

At sundown on 20 Nissan, the observances are heightened from the Intermediate Days. The Passover candles are lit again. On this night it is customary to stay up all night studying Torah in commemoration of the parting of the Red Sea. 21 Nissan is similar to the 20th. The candles are lit again at sundown and the Torah is studied further for most of the night. 22 Nissan marks the final day of Passover. The main focus of the day is on freedom and the final redemption, which will come in the form of the future Messiah. “Moshiach’s Feast” is held with the traditional dishes of the Seder. It is a celebration of hope that the coming of the Messiah will be soon. The feast begins before sundown and continues into the evening. Passover is officially over at sundown.

Symbolism of the Seder

The Seder is a meal that holds deep symbolism for the Jews. Each dish has meaning, and represents something from the struggles they faced in Egypt.

Passover Candles: There are two candles used in Passover, and each candle holds dual meaning. They represent the ideas of observance and remembrance of the struggles in Egypt. Also, the remind those gathered the God is the Creator and the Redeemer of the world. The Passover candles are to be lit with an existing flame only, so as not to break the holiday work restrictions in place for the Passover celebration.

Matzo: Matzo is unleavened bread. In Egypt, the bread did not have time to rise before the Jews departed from Egypt, so it was baked in an unleavened state for the journey. It is still consumed in its unleavened state in remembrance of the haste needed to leave Egypt.

Red Wine: Four glasses of red wine are traditionally consumed at the Seder to commemorate the joy of freedom.

Roasted Shankbone: The roasted shankbone is placed on the table as a reminder of the lambs slain in Egypt to mark the homes of the Jews during the final plague.

Roasted Egg: The roasted egg is a symbol of the Passover sacrifice made annually at the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem before its destruction in 70 CE?. It is also used as a symbol of mourning for the loss of the Temple itself.

Parsley: The parsley represents the hyssop branches used in Egypt to spread the lamb’s blood on the Jewish homes. It is dipped twice in saltwater before consumed.

Saltwater: The saltwater represents the tears of bitterness the Jews shed while slaves in Egypt.

Bitter Herbs: Usually horseradish or onion is used for the bitter herbs?. ?They represent the bitterness of slavery.

Charoset: Charoset is a grates apple mixture that looks a lot like the clay used in brick construction in ancient Egypt. It is a reminder of the hard labor of slavery.

Works Consulted:

Irving, Valerie. Let Us Keep The Feast: A Meal of Bread and Wine. ANZEA Publishing, Homebush West, 1990, pp. 123-124.

Kehot Publication Society. “The Passover Calender.” Jan. 13, 2006. .

Kehot Publication Society. “Passovering Time.” Jan. 13, 2006. .