Pesach and the Exodus from Egypt
Pesach (Passover) marks a remembrance of Israelites exodus from Ancient Egypt. Each spring starting on the 15th of Nissan, the eight-day holiday serves as a reminder to modern Jews of the triumphs of their ancestors.
Faced with servitude under the Pharaoh, the Israelites began their exodus when the Ten Plagues afflicted the Egyptians. The commemorating of Passover begins each year on the last day of the plagues, when the Israelites began their exodus to freedom led by Moses.
Pesach begins with Seder meals remembering the Exodus, as recounted in the Haggadah. The Sedar recounts the lessons and struggles of the Israelites, and explores the roots of traditions, such as eating matzah (unleavened bread) and avoid chametz during the holiday.
An Overview of the Passover Seder
The Seder recalls the experience of the Israelites in ancient Egypt through each of its traditions. Beginning with Kiddush, the sanctity of the holiday is established and the first cup of win is consumed while reclining - a symbol of freedom. Four total cups of wine are consumed to further express gratitude over liberation for the Jewish people.
Next, the Seder continues with Karpas, which involves dipping a vegetable into salt water, representing the sorrow and triumph of the Israelites. Then, the Matzah is split, representing the parting of the Sea of Reeds - the two pieces form the Afikoman and the bread of affliction, demonstrating the dual nature of the story of Exodus.
The first of the Four Questions marks the beginning of the Haggadah by asking “why is this night different from all other nights?” In response, the Passover story is recounted and a second cup of wine is consumed.
Matzah is then consumed while reclining after saying the blessing before the bread, along with a special blessing over the matzot. Next, bitter herbs are dipped in charoset over the blessing over the maror - a symbol of the bittersweet exodus. Next, the korech, formed from matzot and maror, is consumed along with bitter herbs and the formal meal begins with a hard-boiled egg.
The meal celebrates the joy of the holiday, and the meal concludes by consuming the Afikoman and two cups of wine while saying the blessing over the wine. Many Seder traditions involve singing traditional songs of praise.
Summary of Passover Torah Portions
The first Torah reading on Pescach recounts the last of the plagues, which struck the Egyptian first born and marked the initial Exodus to Mount Sinai. During the second day of Passover, the Torah portion marks the beginning of Shavuot and recalls the Counting of the Omer, which marks the 49 days leading up to the festival. During, the third through the sixth day of Passover, Chol Hamoed, the Torah portions establish a number of Jewish laws, including avoiding Chametz, wearing tefillin and the guidelines for the festival. The seventh day returns to a complete holiday celebrating with a Torah portion remembering the parting of the Sea, while the final day of the Holiday establishes the annual festivals which have become a Jewish tradition.