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Passover: The Festival of Freedom

Passover: The Festival of Freedom

Meaning

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is a significant and profound Jewish festival. It celebrates the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt and their journey to the land that God promised them. Passover also honors the principles of freedom, justice, and human dignity that are essential to Judaism.


Passover 2023

Passover starts on the evening of April 5th, 2023, and lasts for eight days (seven in Israel). During this period, Jews around the world follow various rituals and traditions that link them to their past and culture. One of the most significant aspects of Passover is the abstention from chametz, or leavened bread and products. This reminds them of the urgency with which the Israelites left Egypt without having time to let their dough rise. Instead, they consumed matzah, or unleavened bread, which is also known as the bread of affliction.


Passover Meal

Another element of Passover is the seder or festive meal that takes place on the first night (and the second night outside of Israel). The seder is a unique opportunity to retell the story of the Exodus through readings, songs, prayers, and symbolic foods. The seder plate contains six items that represent different aspects of the Passover story: a roasted bone (zero) for the sacrificial lamb; a hard-boiled egg (beitzah) for the festival offering; a bitter herb (maror) for the bitterness of slavery; a sweet paste (charoset) for the mortar used by the slaves; a vegetable (karpas) for the spring season; and a second bitter herb (chazeret) for additional bitterness. The seder also includes four cups of wine (or grape juice) that match four phrases of liberation in the Torah: “I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, and I will take you as my people."


The Seder

The seder is more than a ritual; it is also an interactive and engaging experience that welcomes questions, discussions, and reflections. The youngest person at the table asks four questions (mah Mishnah) that show the differences between this night and other nights: Why do we eat only matzah? Why do we consume bitter herbs? Why do we dip two times? Why do we lean back? The responses to these questions are given in the Haggadah or the book that directs the seder. The Haggadah contains various texts, from biblical verses to rabbinic commentaries to modern interpretations, that explore the themes and meanings of Passover. The Haggadah also urges us to see ourselves as if we personally left Egypt and to empathize with those who are still oppressed or enslaved today.


The Importance

Passover is not just a commemoration of the past but also a projection for the future. It reminds us of our duty to uphold the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity for ourselves and others. It inspires us to seek personal and collective growth, to overcome our limitations, and to pursue our dreams. It urges us to question ourselves: What are we bound by?


The Big Q's

What are we liberated from? What are we thankful for? What are we hopeful for?


Ending Remarks

Passover is a festival that invites us to connect with our history, heritage, community, and humanity. It is a festival that teaches us to appreciate what we have, to remember where we came from, and to aspire to where we want to go. It is a festival that encourages us to celebrate our freedom.

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