Ultimately, Passover is a celebration of freedom. In Israel, Passover is the seven-day holiday of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with the first and last days observed as legal holidays and holy days. During those days, observant Jews do not attend work or school. Holiday candles are lit at night, and kiddush and sumptuous holiday meals are enjoyed. The middle four days are called Chol Hamoed, semi-festive days when most forms of work are permitted.
What is Passover and why is it celebrated?
Passover was celebrated by Jesus and his disciples on this occasion. Because he took Passover meal elements and made them symbols of death after sharing it with his disciples the last time before he died, Jesus would often share this meal with his disciples.
Did Jesus celebrate the Jewish Passover at the Last Supper?
With his disciples gathered around him, Jesus partakes of his Last Supper. The meal in this late-15th-century painting by the Spanish artist known only as the Master of Perea consists of lamb, unleavened bread and wine—all elements of the Seder feast celebrated on the first night of the Jewish Passover festival. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke appear to present Jesus’ Last Supper as a Seder.
What are the rituals of Passover?
- Eating Matzahs
- Drinking four cups of wine (Arba Kosos)
- Eating bitter herbs (Maror)
- Relating the story of the Exodus (Haggadah or Magid)
- Reciting Psalms of Praise (Hallel)
What is the Jewish tradition for Passover?
On many nights, Passover can be celebrated at a high level, especially the first night of the meal called the Seder, which features great pomp and ceremony. Seders represent important symbolic celebrations and bring worship and prayer together commemorating the Hebrews’ liberation. The food commemorates the Hebrews’ liberation through symbolism.
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Do Israelites still celebrate Passover?
Israel. Passover is one of the most sacred holidays for Jews living in Israel and elsewhere. They celebrate the seven-day festival by enjoying the first and last days as legal holidays and many take the week off to travel around the country.
Why did the Israelites celebrate the feast of Passover?
After the death of the firstborn Pharaoh, the Israelites were ordered to leave, taking whatever they want, and Moses was asked to bless him in the name of the Lord. The passage goes on to state that the Passover sacrifice recalls the time when God "passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt".
Where did the Israelites first celebrate Passover?
Passover is a Jewish festival celebrated since at least the 5th century BCE, typically associated with the tradition of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. According to historical evidence and modern-day practice, the festival was originally celebrated on the 14th of Nissan.
What did the Israelites eat during Passover?
The Torah's Book of Exodus, Chapter 12, offers one description of the instructions for Passover fare: “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: [Each household] shall eat [lamb] roasted over the fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs” (Jewish Publication Society translation).
Is Passover the same as Easter?
Passover marks the biblical story of Exodus, of the Jews and their leader, Moses, fleeing slavery in Egypt with the help of divine intervention. Easter, widely considered the most important day of the Christian calendar, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus as told in the Gospels of the New Testament.
What are the five major points of the Passover story?
The 5 Most Important Things to Know About PassoverImportance of Memory. ... Importance of Optimism. ... Importance of Faith. ... Importance of Family. ... Importance of Empathy for Others.
When did the Israelites first celebrate Passover?
1200s BCPassover, also called Pesach, is the Jewish festival celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery in 1200s BC.
Why did the Jews go to Jerusalem for Passover?
The annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem is the time in the Spring when Jews celebrate God's formation of Israel when he delivered the nation from slavery in Egypt. The annual celebration is shaped by a shared memory of that deliverance and a focus on experiencing anew God's pivotal miracle.
What happens during the 7 days of Passover?
In the book of Leviticus, we read about a Feast of Unleavened Bread where Jews are commanded to eat unleavened bread (a.k.a. matzah) for seven days. The first and seventh days are described as sacred occasions when one is not to work at their occupations.
What Cannot be eaten during Passover?
Ashkenazi Jews, who are of European descent, have historically avoided rice, beans, corn and other foods like lentils and edamame at Passover. The tradition goes back to the 13th century, when custom dictated a prohibition against wheat, barley, oats, rice, rye and spelt, Rabbi Amy Levin said on NPR in 2016.
What can Jews not eat during Passover?
In addition to chametz, Ashkenazi Jews traditionally prohibit the consumption of kitniyot during Passover. These items, known commonly as rice, corn, millet and legumes, have been banned for centuries by Ashkenazi Jews.
What do the 4 glasses of wine represent at Passover?
But the accepted answer is that the four cups of wine celebrate four different words in the biblical text that describe G-d's deliverance. The four words for four descriptions and stages of deliverance are found in Exodus Chapter 6 Verses 6 and 7.
What is the story of Passover short story?
The story of Passover can be found in the book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible, which relates the enslavement of the Israelites and their subsequent escape from ancient Egypt. Fearing that the Israelites will outnumber his people, the Egyptian Pharaoh enslaves them and orders every newly born Jewish son murdered.
What is Passover in simple terms?
Passover (Hebrew: פסח, Pesach) is a religious holiday or festival noted by ceremonies each year, mostly by Jewish people. They celebrate it to remember when God used Moses to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, as told in the book of Exodus in the Bible.
What does Passover day mean?
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the Jewish religion's most sacred and widely observed holidays. In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites' departure from ancient Egypt, which appears in the Hebrew Bible's books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, among other texts.
Why is Passover celebrated for 8 days?
The Torah says to celebrate Passover for seven days, but Jews in the Diaspora lived too far away from Israel to receive word as to when to begin their observances and an additional day of celebration was added to be on the safe side.
What feast did the Israelites have on the 14th of Nisan?
The Israelites held the feast of Passover on the 14th of Nisan. They slayed the paschal lamb in the afternoon and ate it with unleavened bread, after sunset that same night, during the first hours of Nisan 15 (Ex. 12:6–14, 29, 33, 42, 51; 13:3–7; Num. 9:1–5; 33:3; Deut. 16:1–7
What did the Israelites mark their homes with?
The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord knew to pass over the first-born in these homes, hence the English name of the holiday.
What is the feast of Nisan 15?
Nisan 15, a ceremonial sabbath, also marked the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 12:8, 18, 34, 39; Lev. 23:5, 6; Num. 28:16, 17; Deut. 16:3, 4, 8). The feast activity continued through the 21st, the 15th and 21st of Nisan being celebrated as sabbaths irrespective of the days of the week on which they might fall (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:6, 7).
What is the significance of Passover?
Seder Meaning. Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the Jewish religion’s most sacred and widely observed holidays. In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites’ departure from ancient Egypt, which appears in the Hebrew Bible’s books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, ...
What do Jews eat on Passover?
One of the most important Passover rituals for observant Jews is removing all leavened food products (known as chametz) from their home before the holiday begins and abstaining from them throughout its duration. Instead of bread, religious Jews eat a type of flatbread called matzo.
When Is Passover 2021?
Passover 2021 will be from sundown on March 27, 2021, to sundown on April 4, 2021. The date of Passover changes each year because the date is set not by the Gregorian calendar, but by the lunar-based Hebrew calendar. It always occurs during the Hebrew month of Nisan.
What are some substitutes for shankbone on Passover?
Did you know? Jewish vegetarians often substitute beets for the shankbone on the Passover seder plate.
Why do Jews eat matzo?
According to tradition, this is because the Hebrews fled Egypt in such haste that there was no time for their bread to rise, or perhaps because matzo was lighter and easier to carry through the desert than regular bread.
Why do the Israelites mark their homes with lamb's blood?
The Israelites, however, mark the door frames of their homes with lamb’s blood so that the angel of death will recognize and “pass over” each Jewish household.
Why did Moses ask for three days of leave?
Along with his brother Aaron, Moses approaches the reigning pharaoh (who is unnamed in the biblical version of the story) several times, explaining that the Hebrew God has requested a three-day leave for his people so that they may celebrate a feast in the wilderness.
Why did the Passover ritual start?
The Passover ritual is widely thought to have its origins in an apotropaic rite, unrelated to the Exodus, to ensure the protection of a family home, a rite conducted wholly within a clan. Hyssop was employed to daub the blood of a slaughtered sheep on the lintels and door posts to ensure that demonic forces could not enter the home.
How long is Passover celebrated?
One of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals, Passover is traditionally celebrated in the Land of Israel for seven days and for eight days among many Jews in the Diaspora, based on the concept of yom tov sheni shel galuyot.
What is the name of the lamb sacrifice?
The term Pesach ( Hebrew: פֶּסַח Pesaḥ) may also refer to the lamb or goat which was designated as the Passover sacrifice (called the Korban Pesach in Hebrew). Four days before the Exodus, the Hebrews were commanded to set aside a lamb ( Exodus 12:3 ), and inspect it daily for blemishes. During the day on the 14th of Nisan, they were to slaughter the animal and use its blood to mark their lintels and door posts. Before midnight on the 15th of Nisan they were to consume the lamb.
What is the meaning of the word "Pesach"?
The word Pesach or Passover can also refer to the Korban Pesach, the paschal lamb that was offered when the Temple in Jerusalem stood, to the Passover Seder, the ritual meal on Passover night, or to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
What is the Jewish holiday of the 15th day of the month of Nisan?
Passover, also called Pesach ( / ˈpɛsɑːx, ˈpeɪ -/; Hebrew: פֶּסַח Pesaḥ ), is a major Jewish holiday that occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month of Aviv, or spring. The word Pesach or Passover can also refer to the Korban Pesach, the paschal lamb that was offered when the Temple in Jerusalem stood, ...
How is chametz sold?
Each householder must put aside all the chametz he is selling into a box or cupboard, and the rabbi enters into a contract to sell all the chametz to a non-Jew (who is not obligated to celebrate the commandments) in exchange for a small down payment ( e.g. $1.00), with the remainder due after Passover. This sale is considered completely binding according to Halakha, and at any time during the holiday, the buyer may come to take or partake of his property. The rabbi then re-purchases the goods for less than they were sold at the end of the holiday.
When do Jews search for chametz?
On the night of the fourteenth of Nisan, the night before the Passover Seder (after nightfall on the evening before Passover eve), Jews do a formal search in their homes known as bedikat chametz for any possible remaining leaven ( chametz ). The Talmudic sages instructed that a search for chametz be made in every home, place of work, or any place where chametz may have been brought during the year. When the first Seder is on a Saturday night, the search is conducted on the preceding Thursday night (thirteenth of Nisan) as chametz cannot be burned during Shabbat .
Why did Moses celebrate Passover?
The purpose of Passover if for the Israelites to “keep vigil” to honor God for his grace and protection.
Why is Passover important to the Jewish people?
The purpose of Passover if for the Israelites to “keep vigil” to honor God for his grace and protection. It is a special event reserved for the Jewish people to celebrate their freedom. As such, God places special requirements and restrictions over the event to ensure its sacredness to the Jewish people is upheld.
Why did the Israelites keep vigil at the end of the 430 years?
Because God kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night, all Israelites are instructed to keep vigil to honor God for the generations to come. God told Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal. No foreigner may eat it.
What is the origin of Passover?
What the story means to us today. Moses and the origin of Passover – A special event for the Israelites to celebrate God’s grace and protection during the exodus. Additional thoughts and considerations. 430 years in Egypt.
What did God say to Moses and Aaron at the end of the 430 years?
At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, GOD’s entire army left Egypt. GOD kept watch all night, watching over the Israelites as he brought them out of Egypt. Because GOD kept watch, all Israel for all generations will honor GOD by keeping watch this night —a watchnight. 43–47 GOD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the rules for the Passover:
Where did the idea of Passover come from?
The origin of Passover came from these instructions and all the Israelites did just as the Lord commanded.
What did God do to the firstborn in Egypt?
God strikes down all the firstborn in Egypt triggering the beginning of the Israelite’s’ exodus (Exodus 12:29 – 12:39). God instructs Moses to consecrate every firstborn male in commemoration of the day Israelites were free d from slavery (Exodus 13:1 – 13:16).
Who spoke again concerning the Passover?
Later in the book of Numbers Yahuweh spoke again unto Moses concerning the Passover:
Who commanded Moses to observe the Passover?
And after Israel departed Egypt Yahuweh specifically commanded Moses to make sure that Israel observed the Passover.
What did Moses say to the children of Israel before entering the Promise Land?
Before entering the Promise Land “Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, according to all that Yahuweh had commanded him to give to them“ ( De ut 1:3 ). At which time he again reminded the children Israel to observe the Passover at it’s appointed time. Deut 16:1 "Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to Yahuweh your God, ...
What did Yahuweh command before Israel left Egypt?
Three different times before Israel left Egypt Yahuweh commanded that the Passover be observed by Israel “forever, throughout their generations”
How could Moses have observed it though when possibly so many were not circumcised?
How could he have observed it though when possibly so many were not circumcised? The Passover was eaten in the individual households and it’s not as though there was a “circumcision check” prior to anyone's eating of the Passover. Moses would not have checked to see if all the males out of the roughly3,000,000 people were circumcised. Nor did anyone have to fill out a questionnaire asking if they were circumcised prior to their eating Passover. So even though there were those who obviously did not circumcised their children, Moses, in my opinion, would have definitely commanded the observance of the Passover each year.
Why did Joshua circumcise the people?
Josh 5:4 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: because of all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, that is all the men of war, who died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt.
What is the only annul feast of Yahuweh?
Passover is the only annul feast of Yahuweh in which if someone was unable to observe it at it’s appointed time, on the 14th day of the 1st month, they were to observe it the following month, on the 14th day, “according to all the statutes of the Passover they shall observe it” (vs. 9). Observing the Passover was of such an importance ...
Why did the Jews not keep Passover?
When the Jews were in exile during the Babylonian captivity, they could not keep the Passover. This prohibition led to the replacement of the Passover with the Seder meal on the 15th day of the first month, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. To make their false substitute appear Scriptural, the Jews changed the name of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread to “Passover.” By changing the name of this feast, the Seder meal on the night of the 15th became the “Passover” for those who were living in exile.
When did the Passover end?
The observance of the Passover in Jerusalem and Judea ceased with the destruction of the temple in AD 70. From that time forward, the Jews were unable to observe the temple sacrifice of the Passover lambs. Although the domestic sacrifice was practiced by many Jews in succeeding generations, the token shank bone of the Seder meal eventually replaced the Passover lamb among most Jews in Judea, as well as those who lived in foreign lands.
Why were Adam and Eve exiled from the Garden of Eden?
Because they had sinned and had not kept the covenant that God made with them, Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden. They were removed from the covenant land: “Therefore, the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he had been taken. And He drove out the man, and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gen. 3:23-24).
What happened to Judah after Josiah died?
But the repentance of the people was short-lived. After Josiah’s death, Judah again fell into total corruption. The people of Judah, including the priests and Levites, did worse than the people of Israel and sinned greatly against God. Although God sent many prophets to warn them, the people of Judah refused to listen or repent. God sent Jeremiah to give them one last warning:
Why did God send the people of Israel into captivity?
They understood that because they had not kept the laws that God delivered to Moses, but had rejected them and rebelled against Him, all the curses that were written had come upon them. The prayer of Daniel, one of the captives of Judah, clearly points out why the final curse of the covenant—exile from the land—was executed against Israel and Judah:
What did the children of Israel do to God?
The children of Israel remained faithful to God all the days of Joshua and the elders that outlived him, but the following generation fell into grievous idolatry. They forsook God and broke His covenant by turning to the abominable worship of Baal and Ashteroth, or Asherah, which they had learned from the heathen inhabitants whom they had failed to drive out of the land. As punishment for their sins, God sent enemy nations against them to oppress them. When the people repented of their sins, God raised up judges to deliver them. This cycle of sin, oppression, repentance and deliverance was repeated many times during Israel’s early years in the Promised Land (Judg. 2:7-19).
What happened to Eve's sons?
Eve’s joy in seeing her two sons grow to manhood was turned to deep bitterness when her firstborn became the murderer of his own brother: “It came to pass [Josephus states that Cain and Abel, who were twins, were 130 years old ( Antiquities of the Jews, Bk. 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 3)] that Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground. And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat of it. And the LORD had regard unto Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard unto Cain and his offering. And Cain was extremely angry and his countenance fell. And the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you so angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, shall you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it!’ And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it came to pass that when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
The Passover
The 14th of Nisan
- The Israelites held the feast of Passover on the 14th of Nisan. They slayed the paschal lamb in the afternoon and ate it with unleavenedbread, after sunset that same night, during the first hours of Nisan 15 (Exodus 12:6–14, 29, 33, 42, 51; 13:3–7; Numbers 9:1–5; 33:3; Deuteronomy 16:1–7
The 15th of Nisan
- Nisan 15, a ceremonial sabbath, also marked the beginning of the Feast of UnleavenedBread (Exodus 12:8, 18, 34, 39; Leviticus 23:5, 6; Numbers 28:16, 17; Deuteronomy 16:3, 4, 8). The feast activity continued through the 21st, the 15th and 21st of Nisan being celebrated as sabbaths irrespective of the days of the week on which they might fall (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:6, 7).
The 16th of Nisan
- On Nisan 16, the second day of this feast, the wave sheaf of the first fruits was offered in the Temple (Leviticus 23:10–14). The term “Passover” was first used to point only to Nisan 14, but during the period of Christ it was sometimes used of the Feast of UnleavenedBread also (Luke 22:7; Act 12:3,4)(Antiquities ii. 14. 6; xi. 4. 8; xiv. 2. 1 [311–313; 109–111; 21]; xvii. 9. 3; War ii. 1. …
The 17th of Nisan
- On the 17th, those who had come up to Jerusalem to attend the feast were allowed to return to their homes if they want to do so. However, the devout among the Israelites kept the requirements of the ceremonial law and remained for the period of the whole feast rather than only for the least time obligatory by the rabbis. In His service, BibleAskTeam This post is also available in:हिन्दी(…
Overview
Passover, also called Pesach , is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month of Aviv, or spring. The word Pesach or Passover can also refer to the Korban Pesach, the paschal lamb that was offered when the Temple in Jerusalem stood; to the Passover Seder, the ritual meal on Passover night; or to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. One of the biblically ordained Three Pilgr…
Related celebrations in other religions
Saint Thomas Syrian Christians observe Maundy Thursday as Pesaha, a Malayalam word derived from the Aramaic or Hebrew word for Passover (Pasha, Pesach or Pesah), commemorating the Korban Pesach and Last Supper of Jesus Christ during Passover in Jerusalem. The tradition of consuming Pesaha Appam after the church service is observed by the entire community u…
Etymology
The Hebrew פֶּסַח is rendered as Tiberian [pɛsaħ] (listen), and Modern Hebrew: [ˈpesaχ] Pesah, Pesakh. The verb pasàch (פָּסַח) is first mentioned in the Torah's account of the Exodus from Egypt, and there is some debate about its exact meaning. The commonly held assumption that it means "He passed over" (פסח), in reference to God "passing over" (or "skipping") the houses of the Hebrews during the final of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, stems from the translation provided in the Septuagint (Ancient …
Origins
The Passover ritual is widely thought to have its origins in an apotropaic rite, unrelated to the Exodus, to ensure the protection of a family home, a rite conducted wholly within a clan. Hyssop was employed to daub the blood of a slaughtered sheep on the lintels and door posts to ensure that demonic forces could not enter the home.
Biblical narrative
In the Book of Exodus, the Israelites are enslaved in ancient Egypt. Yahweh, the god of the Israelites, appears to Moses in a burning bush and commands Moses to confront Pharaoh. To show his power, Yahweh inflicts a series of 10 plagues on the Egyptians, culminating in the 10th plague, the death of the first-born.
This is what the LORD says: "About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Eg…
Date and duration
The Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan, which typically falls in March or April of the Gregorian calendar. The 15th day begins in the evening, after the 14th day, and the seder meal is eaten that evening. Passover is a spring festival, so the 15th day of Nisan typically begins on the night of a full moon after the northern vernal equinox. However, due to leap months falling after the vernal equinox, Passover sometimes starts on the second full moon after vernal equino…
Passover sacrifice
The main entity in Passover according to Judaism is the sacrificial lamb. During the existence of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem, the focus of the Passover festival was the Passover sacrifice (Hebrew: korban Pesach), also known as the Paschal lamb, eaten during the Passover Seder on the 15th of Nisan. Every family large enough to completely consume a young lamb or wild goat was required to offer one for sacrifice at the Jewish Temple on the afternoon …
Removing all leaven (chametz)
Leaven, in Hebrew chametz (Hebrew: חמץ ḥamets, "leavening") is made from one of five types of grains combined with water and left to stand for more than eighteen minutes. The consumption, keeping, and owning of chametz is forbidden during Passover. Yeast and fermentation are not themselves forbidden as seen for example by wine, which is required, rather than merely permitted. According to Halakha, the ownership of such chametz is also proscribed.