This year, the Jewish community celebrates the first two nights of Passover on April 15 and April 16 with the Passover Seder, a joyous family event. This year, Passover lasts from the eve of April 15 to sunset on April 23.
The History of Passover
During Passover, we relive the experiences of our ancestors as they left the famine-stricken land of Canaan and entered Egypt, the most powerful nation on Earth.
The Jews were exiled and enslaved in Egypt and then liberated by G-d more than 3,300 years ago. At first, the newcomers were treated well and began to prosper — but soon they were forced into slavery by the Egyptians. For the next four generations, the increasingly barbaric conditions created by the Egyptians beat the Jews into psychological submission, and not even a decree that all Jewish sons be killed pushed them to revolt.
However, one boy, Moses, survived the slaughter to become a man who, at G-d’s command, led the Jews to freedom. During this holiday, we recount the miracles of the Exodus and pray that the future redemption comes very soon.
Passover Observances
The Passover Seder includes four components: Haggadah, matzah, wine and maror.
1. Haggadah: This refers to the story of the Jews’ enslavement and Exodus from Egypt.
2. Matzah: The specially prepared, unleavened bread that is eaten on Passover.
3. Wine: Four cups of wine are drunk at certain points of the Seder ceremony by each adult diner. Each cup symbolizes freedom from our four exiles (the Egyptian, the Babylonian, the Greek and the current exile, which we hope to be rid of with the coming of Moshiach).
4. Maror: The bitter herbs that are eaten at the Passover Seder, which is a reminder of the bitter enslavement of the Jews. This is a reference to the biblical commandment, “With bitter herbs they shall eat it.” (Exodus 12:8)
True Freedom
When G-d commanded Moses to bring the Jewish people out of Egypt, He proclaimed his ultimate purpose: “…That they shall serve G-d upon this mountain (Mount Sinai).”
Our liberation was not truly complete until we received the Torah on Mount Sinai. G-d’s Torah and commandments are the key to achieving true freedom — not just from physical enslavement, but from all of our limiting beliefs and behaviors as well. The Torah shows us how to avoid the pitfalls that life presents to us, and teaches us how to make this world a place of peace, harmony and happiness for all humankind.
Matzah and Chametz
Passover, also known as Pesach, is known as “The Festival of Matzos.” We are commanded to eat matzah on the first night of Pesach and rid ourselves of all chametz (or, chomtez) — which are bread and leavened food products — for the entire eight days of the holiday. This important commandment offers us great insight into the true nature of liberation.
The difference between leavened bread and matzah is obvious: whereas bread rises, the Pesach matzos are not permitted to rise at all. Our Rabbis explain that the “puffed up” nature of chametz symbolizes the character traits of arrogance and conceit. The flat, unleavened matzah, on the other hand, represents utter humility.
Humility is the beginning of liberation and the foundation of all spiritual growth. Only a person who can acknowledge his own shortcomings and submit to a higher wisdom can free himself from his own limitations. On Pesach, we are forbidden to consume even the most minute amount of chametz, as we should rid ourselves from the arrogance and self-centeredness that is within our hearts.
By eating Pesach matzos, we internalize the qualities of humanity and self-transcendence, both of which are essential to having faith.
The Final Reception
The eighth day of Pesach, which falls this year on April 23, is traditionally associated with our fervent hope for the coming of Moshiach, or the Messiah. The Haftorah (prophetic reading) for this day contains Isaiah’s famous prophecies about the Messianic era: Maimonides (the Ramban) cites the belief in Moshiach as one of the 13 essential principles of our faith. He explains in his codification of Jewish Law that the Moshiach is a Torah sage who will lead the multitudes of Jewish people to the faithful observance of the Torah and its way of life. Eventually, he will rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, gather in the exiles to the land of Israel and usher in an age in which there is no hunger, war, jealousy or strife.
May we come very soon to a time of true peace and security in Israel and around the world.
Wishing you and yours a happy Passover!
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