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| PASSOVER By Rev. Judy Fishman Passover will begin this year at sundown on Wednesday, April 19th. Passover is the oldest and greatest of the Jewish festivals. It was observed in the most ancient of times, in the days when the Jews were still nomadic shepherds in the wilderness. Originally it was a nature festival, the observance of the coming of spring. Later it became a historic and national holiday, the festival of deliverance from Egypt, which is its current meaning. The festival of Passover commemorates the liberation of the Jews from the land of Egypt, where they had lived in bondage to the Pharaohs. According to the Old Testament, the Lord brought a series of plagues upon the land which ultimately convinced the Pharaoh to let the Jews go. However shortly after, the Pharaoh had a change of heart and the Egyptian army was sent to pursue the fleeing Jews. Thus the Jews did not have time to let their bread rise, and out of necessity they ate the bread unleavened. Today, Jews everywhere do the same to observe and remember. Today in America, Passover is observed primarily as a family festival. Many families invite people who cannot be with their own families to join them for this event. The holiday’s most important ingredient is the unleavened bread, known as matzoh. During the evening meal a service, called seder, is conducted at the table consisting of prayers and blessings of various symbolic foods in remembrance. For example, horseradish is blessed and eaten to recall the bitterness of the slavery endured and the tears shed during the Egyptian bondage. The story of the exodus from Egypt is retold to the children. As part of the service a glass of wine is poured for Elijah the prophet, who is supposed to be the forerunner of the Messiah. The door to the house is opened by one of the children in hopes that Elijah will come in, join in and drink the wine, thus signaling the coming of the Messianic age. The history of the Jews intertwines with the history of Christianity and Passover is no exception. As you may recall Jesus and his Disciples were celebrating a Passover seder the night of The Last Supper. |
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