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Pesach (Passover)

Pesach being the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of being enslaved by the Egyptians under the rule of the Pharaoh Ramses II. According to the Book of Exodus - Moses, a simple Jewish shepherd, was instructed by God to go to the pharaoh and demand the freedom of his people.

When the Pharaoh finally agreed to freedom, the Israelites left their homes so quickly that there wasn't even time to bake their breads. So they packed the raw dough to take with them on their journey. As they fled through the desert they would quickly bake the dough in the hot sun into hard crackers called matzohs. Today to commemorate this event, Jews eat matzoh in place of bread during Passover.

The name "Pesach� comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet, meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In English, the holiday is known as Passover. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on this holiday.

The Seder taking place during the first 2 nights of the 8-day holiday is the most important event in the Passover celebration. Usually gathering the whole family and friends together, the Seder is steeped in long held traditions and customs.

Leading up to the first night of Passover, the home is cleaned and cleared of all yeast foods, called hametz. The rules surrounding Passover are strict and only special foods, utensils, and dishware are allowed. Kitchen utensils and dishware normally used in the home are not to be used during Passover. Only foods that are "Kosher for Passover" are allowed. No leavened (containing yeast) foods or grains are eaten. In their place matzoh and foods containing matzoh are chosen.

To find out how strict and important these rules are, it is recommended to go through the following text describing parts of the Seder.

1. Kaddesh: Sanctification A blessing over wine in honor of the holiday. The wine is drunk, and a second cup is poured.

2. Urechatz: Washing A washing of the hands without a blessing, in preparation for eating the Karpas.

3. Karpas: Vegetable A vegetable (usually parsley) is dipped in salt water and eaten.

4. Yachatz: Breaking One of the three matzahs on the table is broken. Part is returned to the pile, the other part is set aside for the afikomen.

5. Maggid: The Story A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Pesach. This begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the Seder.

6. Rachtzah: Washing A second washing of the hands, this time with a blessing, in preparation for eating the matzah.

7. Motzi: Blessing over Grain Products The ha-motzi blessing, a generic blessing for bread or grain products used as a meal, is recited over the matzah.

8. Matzah: Blessing over Matzah A blessing specific to matzah is recited, and a bit of matzah is eaten.

9. Maror: Bitter Herbs A blessing is recited over a bitter vegetable (usually raw horseradish; sometimes romaine lettuce), and it is eaten. The maror is dipped charoset, a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine, which symbolizes the mortar used by the Jews in building during their slavery.

10. Korech: The Sandwich Rabbi Hillel was of the opinion that the maror should be eaten together with matzah and the paschal offering in a sandwich. In his honor, they eat some maror on a piece of matzah, with some charoset.

11. Shulchan Orech: Dinner A festive meal is eaten. There is no particular requirement regarding what to eat at this meal. Gefilte fish and matzah ball soup are traditionally eaten at the beginning of the meal. Roast chicken or turkey are common as a main course, as is beef brisket.

12. Tzafun: The Afikomen The piece of matzah set aside earlier is eaten as "desert," the last food of the meal.

13. Barech: Grace after Melas The third cup of wine is poured, and grace after meals is recited. This is similar to the grace that would be said on any Shabbat. At the end, a blessing is said over the third cup and it is drunk. The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah, who is supposed to herald the Messiah, and is supposed to come on Pesach to do this.

14. Hallel: Praises Several psalms are recited. A blessing is recited over the last cup of wine and it is drunk.

15. Nirtzah: Closing A simple statement that the Seder has been completed, with a wish that next year, they may celebrate Pesach in Jerusalem. This is followed by various hymns and stories.

by Patrycja Wierzbicka, Agnieszka Konior, Rafal Gronski & Luke Dyrda
Posted by Luke on 12/21/04; 6:34:19 AM from the Liceum V dept.