Symbolism and features of worship for Pesach
This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord鈥攁 lasting ordinance. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.
Blood - God told Moses that the Israelites should mark their doors with lamb's blood so that God could 'pass over' their houses and spare them from these plagues. This is why the festival is often called Passover.
Matzah - the Pharaoh gave in and told Moses and the Israelites to go at once. They left in such a rush that their bread did not have time to rise. This is why, before Passover, Jewish people eat unleavenedFood, eg bread made without a raising agent such as yeast. bread called matzah. In many Jewish homes, children enjoy taking part in a ritual search for any specks of leavenA substance that enables bread to rise, eg yeast. left behind.
Seder plate - on the first night of Pesach, a special service called a SederA Jewish ritual meal, held outside Israel on the first and second day of the Passover festival. In Israel it is held on the first day only. takes place over a family meal in the home. The Seder plate consists of:
- a lamb bone
- a roasted egg
- a green vegetable - usually parsley to dip in salt water
- bitter herbs - usually horseradish
- charoset - a paste of chopped apples, walnuts and wine
- romaine lettuce (the second portion of bitter herbs)
On the table, there are several matzot (plural of matzah) on top of each other. At the start of the Seder, the middle matzah is broken and the largest piece is hidden. During the Seder, the children hunt for it. The one who finds it receives a small prize.
Wine - four small glasses of wine represent the four expressions of freedom, symbolising the Israelites being brought out of slavery. The wine symbolises joy and happiness. An extra cup of wine is placed on the table and the door is left open for the prophet ElijahA Hebrew prophet who rescued the Jewish faith from being corrupted by worship of the false god Baal. Many Jews believe that Elijah will return to Earth before the coming of the Messiah. . Jews believe that Elijah will reappear to announce the coming of the MessiahThe promised deliverer of the Hebrew nation at the end of times. and will do so at Pesach.
Cushion - during the evening, the story of how the Israelites fled from Egypt is retold. Everyone at the Seder has a cushion to lean on. This is because in the ancient past people reclined on cushions during meals. The custom is meant to remind Jews that they are now free people and no longer enslaved people.
Exodus - the Passover HaggadahThe narrative of the Exodus from Egypt, including many stories and songs, that is used as the ritual guide of the Passover seder. tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Everyone is to imagine him or herself as if they were redeemed from Egypt themselves. The evening, which includes stories and songs, is a mixture of joy and sadness. Jews do not forget that they were once enslaved people, but they also celebrate their freedom.
Question
What does the term Pesach mean?
The term Pesach refers to one of the most important Jewish festivals. During this time Jews remember Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and freeing them from slavery after God had asked him to do this. By passing over the houses of the Israelites, which were marked with lamb's blood, God was able to spare them from the tenth plague that he sent to punish the Egyptians. The Hebrew word Pesach means 'to pass over' or 'to pass through'. This is why the festival is often called Passover in English.