Passover

Friday evening is the beginning of Passover. Please take the time to view this video. Copy and paste this link: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/passover

Preparing for Passover usually begins a full month BEFORE the holiday arrives, just after the Festival of Purim. Since no leavened bread may be eaten during all seven days of Passover, Jews make a special effort to remove leaven entirely from their homes in obedience to the Torah’s command (Exod. 12:15). This means they clean every room of their house so that all leavened products are removed. They search for bread crumbs under cushions of sofas and chairs, in the pockets of coats and pants, on closet floors and remove every trace. They also thoroughly clean their stove, oven, refrigerator, and freezer. The whole process is really an “object lesson” about the need to separate themselves from corrupting influences in their lives. The traditional spring cleaning also help them spiritually prepare for the coming new year.

The following information I took from a couple of Jewish websites will explain Passover.

God took the Jewish people out of Egypt in the springtime. The Talmud notes that God was very thoughtful. Not only was He interested in redeeming the nation, He wanted to do so at a time when the weather was just right. Not too hot, not too cold. Everything about the Passover season is beautiful. The whole idea of re-doing your house -- your environment -- for the holiday should be a beautiful experience. For some reason, though, the burden of all that cleaning often hangs heavy over us, and as a result we lose much of the joy of Passover.

PASSOVER IN THE NEWS! Over two and a half thousand years ago, God saved the Jewish people and took them out of slavery in Egypt, leading them through the Split Sea and into the land of Israel. Each year we celebrate our redemption from Egypt by reading the story of Passover out loud during the Passover Seder. Here’s how it all began.

For a long time, Pharoah's advisors had been warning him as to the growing threat of the Jewish nation. His sorcerers had seen in the starts that a Jewish boy would be born who would grow up, overturn the entire Egyptian empire and lead his people to freedom. "All Jews must work from sunrise to sunset without pay," Pharaoh declared. "children must work as hard as adults. no parents are allowed to spent time with their kids. Egyptians may use a Jewish slave to do whatever they need." And . . . worst of all, "All Jewish baby boys are to be thrown into the Nile!"

MOSES IS SAVED: A Jewish woman, Yocheved, had a baby boy. Desperately trying to save his life, she hid him until he was three months old then placed him in a basket and sent him floating down the Nile. His sister, Miriam, watched him, hiding amongst the reeds on the banks of the river.

The floating basket was picked up by the Princess of Egypt, Batya, Pharaoh’s own daughter! Discovering the beautiful infant inside, Batya, named him Moses and took him to the palace where he grew up in the lap of luxury. FLEEING FOR HIS LIFE: Despite the fact that he grew up in the palace, Moses could not bear to see the suffering of the Jewish people. One day, Moses chanced upon an Egyptian taskmaster, savagely whipping a Jewish slave to death. Furious, Moses cried out one of God’s Holy Names and the Egyptian immediately died. Certain that Pharaoh’s officers would be after him, Moses fled to Midian. THE BURNING BUSH: Moses lived in Midian for a number of years and was a shepherd for his father-in-law, Yitro. One day, a lamb ran away from the rest of the flock. Moses chased after it and saw a strange sight: a bush covered in fire, yet the bush was not being burnt by the flames! Amazed, Moses drew even nearer and all of a sudden heard the voice of God speaking to him. “Go down to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let My people go!”

THE TEN PLAGUES: Moses and his brother Aaron came before Pharaoh. “Let my people go!” they declared. But Pharaoh just laughed. They threatened Pharaoh with 10 terrible plagues if he did not listen to God, but he did not believe them. Plague after plague soon struck the Egyptians, each one more shocking than the next. Blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, sick animals, boils, hail, locusts, darkness – and the worst plague of all – death of the firstborn. Finally, Pharaoh had enough. He ran frantically through the streets of Egypt searching for Moses. “Go!” He yelled, “And take all the Jews with you!” Moses sent word to all the Jews. “The time has come” he told them, “grab your bags and get ready to leave at once. Don’t wait for your bread to rise, just go!” The Jews left Egypt with sacks on their backs and faith in their hearts.

Image: Moses. FREEDOM AT LAST! Exodus 14:21 The Jews walked until they reached the sea. And there they stopped. They were trapped! They could see the Egyptian army chasing after them, swords at the ready. Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was chasing after his slaves, trying to recapture them. God told Moses to stretch his arm out over the waters, and all at once, the sea split! Miraculously, the Jews were able to walk through on dry land, but as soon as the Egyptians stepped foot in the sea, the walls of water came crashing down on them. The Jews were free!

In February, the rabbi who teaches at the Jerusalem Center came and we spent the evening learning about the Passover and enjoyed the sedar meal.

Photo: JC students at Sedar meal. This is the song sung at Passover. Copy and paste this link: http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/487747/jewish/The-Seder.htm

Photo: We celebrated a sedar meal at the Jerusalem Center in February. The Rabi who teaches at the JC came with his son and lead us through the reading of the and the traditional song.

 

Photo: Sedar meal on Passover.

Photo: Song sung at Passover.

Photo: The Haggadah is read completely at Passover.

Each day we are learning more about Jewish holidays and customs and appreciate the opportunity to do so. On the first two evenings of Passover, Jews light Passover holiday candles similar to ones let on Friday night before dinner. In addition, they also light candles on the seventh and eighth nights of Passover and in Jerusalem torches are lit and people walk through the streets.