What Is the Meaning of Jewish Passover?
Passover is central to Jewish tradition. Based on the story of the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery, Jews celebrate Passover to commemorate freedom, spiritual redemption, God's power and community.
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The Biblical Story
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The crossing of the sea is the climax of the Passover story. The Passover story comes from the first 15 chapters of the Bible's book of Exodus. God elects Moses to lead the Israelite slaves out of Egypt and sends 10 plagues on Egypt to show his might. As the Israelites flee the Egyptian pursuers, God miraculously splits the sea through which the Israelites flee.
Unleavened Bread
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Matzo is eaten in place of bread. Matzo, or unleavened bread, replaces bread on Passover. Before the escape, God orders the Israelites to observe the Passover holiday with unleavened bread for all time (Exodus 12:15). The reason is linked to the hasty departure from Egypt, when the Israelites did not have time for their bread to rise (Exodus 12:34).
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The Passing Over
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God spared the Israelites by passing over their houses. The name "Passover" (Hebrew: "Pesach") comes from God's final plague on Egypt: the slaying of the firstborn son. In Exodus 12:13, God commands the Israelites to smear blood on their door posts, for "when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."
Social Justice
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Justice is a Passover theme. Liberation from Egyptian enslavement is a central theme for Passover and for Jewish life. Freedom from oppression, whether for Jews or for others, makes Passover representative of the social justice values in Jewish tradition.
God
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Passover honors God's liberating powers. God's power to defeat the enemy, liberate a people and form a community are central to the Passover story. Passover is a time to remember God's actions in the world, and it commemorates God's power in creating a spiritual nation.
Redemption
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Passover orders everyone to remember redemption from Egyptian slavery. The Israelites experienced physical liberation as well as spiritual redemption. Once out of slavery, they were free to worship God and receive the law. Personally experiencing physical and spiritual redemption is central to Passover nowadays. According to "My Jewish Learning," "in every generation every individual is obliged to view him or herself as though he or she had actually gone forth from Egypt."
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit pyramids of egypt image by Pierrette Guertin from Fotolia.com coast of the red sea image by Olga Khoroshunova from Fotolia.com woman eating unleavened bread image by forca from Fotolia.com god's glory image by David Dorner from Fotolia.com bilancia image by Satan from Fotolia.com the face of god i image by Morkidz photography from Fotolia.com old egypt picture image by Maksym Ivanov from Fotolia.com
