1. The festival of Passover (Pesah, in Hebrew) begins on
Friday night, 3/30/18. It celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. The overall theme
is freedom, both political, and, by extension, psychological. In Reform Judaism
it is observed for 7 days, whereas Orthodox and Conservative Jews keep it for
8. It is basically a home-centered festival, marked by special foods and through
an elaborate ritualized meal conducted on the first night (in Reform) called Seder
(meaning, “order”). In particular, instead of eating regular bread, it is
customary to eat an unleavened bread called MATZAH.
2. Jewish sources, both Biblical and Rabbinic, have preserved an
“oral tradition,” later written down, about the escape from the slavery in
Egypt. This may have been historically correct for a small group of Hebrews. According
to Prof. R.E Friedman, only the Levites were part of the Exodus (later on they
became the priests); however, there is no archaeological corroboration for
it. Also, most scholars say that the
crossing probably took place at a swamp; no miraculous parting of the sea.
3. In the Bible, Passover appears as a combination of two different
festivals: HAG HA-PESAH, a pastoral feast characterized by the slaughter and
consumption of the paschal lamb, and HAG HA-MAZOT, the feast of unleavened
bread, an agricultural festival marking the beginning of the grain harvest. Both were at some point
historicized.
4. There are some important differences between Ashkenazic and
Sephardic Jews with regard to the foods consumed during this festival. The
first abstain from eating legumes, such as rice, corn and beans, whereas the
second do not.
HAG SAMEAH –Happy Passover!
