Pesach Flashcards
What is Pesach about?
commemorates the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt
What does Peach celebrate?
National liberation and dramatises the belief that God hears the cry of the oppressed
What period does the festival cover?
The week form the Exodus to the crossing of the Red Sea
What was each Israelite household instructed to do on the eve of their redemption?
- to roast a lamb at nightfall
- then daub the animal’s blood on doorposts to ensure their first born will escape harm
How is the lamb to be consumed at the festival?
- to be consumed in haste
- eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs
What do the bitter herbs symbolise?
Symbolise the bitterness inflicted on captive Israelites by their slave masters
What must one abstain from eating on Pesach?
- eating leavened foods
- leavened food are made from the 5 species of grain associated with the land of Israel
What type of festival was Pesach originally?
a pilgrim festival
What are the differences between the lamb used in the festival now and the pilgrim festival?
- paschal lamb was eaten in the precincts of the temple
- the lamb is now symbolised by a roasted shankbone on the seder plate
When is Pesach celebrated and how long does it last?
- on the 15th day of Nissan
- lasts for 7 days
What is one of the core commandments of celebration of Peach?
To explain the significance of Pesach to ones children
“and you should tell…”
“it to your son.”
Exodus 13
How is the core commandment of Peach celebration, carried out?
By reciting the Haggadah at the Seder on the first two nights of Pesach
How is it ensured that no leavened food enters the chain?
Processed foods have to be made under rabbinic supervision
Why is there an exhaustive spring clean as a prelude to Peach?
To ensure that there is no leaven in the house, because the Torah forbids it.
What is the Sabbath before Pesach known as?
Shabbat Hagadol
What does the Shabbat Hagadol include in its service?
- read from portion of Malachi, who envisions the re-appearance of Elijah
- commemoration of past entails hope and redemption for the future
What is the tradition, the night before Pesach?
To scatter a few pieces of chametz around the house and then find them in a ceremonial search
What is the “Fast of the Firstborn”?
Commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn of the plague
How can one be spared from the fast of the firstborn?
If they attend a siyyum.
What is the set text at the Seder?
A set traditional text of the Haggadah
What is there a need to do at the Passover meal?
Need to prompt discussion of meaning of Peach
Who is it important to extend hospitality to at Pesach?
To those who may be on their own.
“let all who…”
“hungry come and eat.”
Haggadah
What else is Pesach sometimes known as?
- the festival of spring
- because Peach was the first time when barley was reaped on the land of Israel
What is the significant of theme of Pesach?
Theme of redemption
How is the theme of redemption expressed at Pesach?
- it is through rituals of festivals that Jews can experience the emotions of slavery to freedom
- spiritual redemption in that they longer bound to pagan Gods
“because it was on this very day…”
“that I brought you divisions out of Egypt.”
Exodus 12
“each generation of participants is encouraged to…”
“regard itself as if they were standing on the edge of spiritual redemption.”
Melanie J. Wright
What does Pesach also look forward to?
- redemption of world under the rule of God
- Seder includes many allusions to the coming of the Messiah
What is done with the cup of wine?
- has a blessing said over it
- cup is set aside for the prophet Elia=jah
Why is the front door opened?
In hope that this is the night where the world will be redeemed by God.
What is the importance of Exodus 12-15 in Pesach?
The retelling of the story celebrates Jewish teaching about redemption and hope.
What do Jews eat and drink on Pesach?
Jews eat symbolic foods from the Seder plate and drink 4 glasses of wine
How is the telling of the Exodus story begun?
- youngest child asks 4 questions
- head of the family must give answers.
- they reply with how God brought them out of slavery and how it is still praiseworthy.
Matzah
- unleavened bread
- acts as a reminder that there was no time for bread for rise before the Israelites escaped from Egypt.
Roasted lamb shankbone
- commemorates the lamb sacrifice they made the night before they fled to Egypt.
“when I see the blood…”
“I will pass over you.”
Exodus 12
Maror
- bitter herb, usually horse raddish
- brings tears to the eyes of those who eat it
- reflects the bitterness of the slavery
Charoset
- sweet paste made of apple, cinnamons and raisins
- symbolises the sweetness of redemption
4 cups of wine
- really the fourfold promise of redemption in Exodus 6.
“in many ways…”
“it epitomises Judaism.”
Melanie J. Wright
