Final Research Paper
Hebrew Pesach: Celebration of the Past and Expectation for the Future
Alyssa Clements
RLST 433: World Religions: Faith and Practice
Dr. William Reese
June 29, 2014
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Introduction
After weeks of eye-opening and inspiring study of religions of the world, I have decided
to focus on Judaism for my final research paper and study Pesach, the Jewish festival of
Passover. I am interested in this topic because as a Christian and in growing up in Sunday
School, I have heard the account of Moses and the Hebrew slaves in Egypt many times. As a
child, I watched the movies and read the pictures books both at home and at church. However, I
understand now that my perception of the story has been from a western Christian perspective.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the festival of Pesach from the Jewish perspective and to
show that it is both a commemoration of freedom from slavery and an expectant celebration of
the coming Messiah. In my research, I will discuss the historical context of Pesach as found in
the Hebrew Torah; the guidelines of the festival including the timing and length, restrictions, and
the steps of the Seder meal; and the connections that can be made between the Jewish and
Christian perceptions of Pesach. Through this research, I hope to build a better understanding of
the story of Pesach from a Jewish point of view and to gain an understanding of the implications
this story has for Jewish people today. I also hope to learn more about the intense dedication
Jewish people have for God as demonstrated through this festival. My hope is to be able to apply
this knowledge to my own Christian beliefs and to my personal relationship with God.
Overview
The Hebrew festival Pesach, also known as “Passover,” is one of the five major festivals
celebrated by Jewish people. Pesach takes place during the springtime and commemorates the
Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt under the direction of Moses. During the festival, the
people abide by common festival restrictions, but an additional restriction and one of the most
distinctive parts of Pesach is the avoidance of yeast. During Pesach, the people also participate in
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the celebratory Seder meal which retells the story of the exodus from Egypt and reminds the
people of the hope of the coming Messiah1.
Historical Context
The history of the origin of Pesach can be found in the Torah, part of the Jewish
Scriptures and the Christian Old Testament. The primary story is recorded in the Book of
Exodus, though to understand the context of the story one should also read the end of the Book
of Genesis. This describes how Joseph, the son of Jacob and great-grandson of Abraham, was
sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers. However, because of his diligent work and
ability to interpret dreams, Joseph gained authority and was able to help the Pharaoh prepare the
nation for an imminent famine. Joseph’s brothers traveled from Canaan to Egypt during the
famine in search of food, and Joseph reconciled with them and provided them with plenty of
food. Jacob, who had been told Joseph was dead, moved his family, the families of his eleven
sons, his servants, flocks, and other possessions to live with Joseph in Egypt2.
Over time, the families continued to grow very large and Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers
died. A new Pharaoh, who did not know of the good things Joseph had done for Egypt, came into
power. He was concerned of the size of Jacob’s family, now called the Israelites, so he forced
them into slavery3. Exodus 1:11 says, “They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to
wear them out with crushing labor4.” The Israelites were enslaved for approximately four
hundred years and were forced to build cities and pagan idols for the Egyptians, but they never
1
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 380381.
2
Genesis 37-50. NLT Study Bible, New Living Translation. 2nd Ed. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
3
Exodus 1. NLT Study Bible, New Living Translation. 2nd Ed. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
4
Exodus 1:11. NLT Study Bible, New Living Translation. 2nd Ed. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
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forgot God’s covenant with their forefather, Abraham, to bring them to the Promised Land as His
chosen people5.
Finally, God appeared to Moses – an Israelite who had been raised in the Egyptian palace
but fled to Midian after murdering an Egyptian man – and sent him to free the people from
slavery6. Moses persistently went before the Pharaoh and asked him to, “Let my people go7.”
Pharaoh continued to refuse, in spite of the plagues God sent upon Egypt, including the water
turning into blood, flies and gnats infesting the homes and fields, and the people being inflicted
with painful boils on their skin. The final plague God sent was death to all firstborn sons, both
children and adults, when the Angel of Death passed through the land. In accordance with God’s
commands, Moses instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb that had no defects and place its
blood on their doorposts to deter the angel from entering their houses. They followed these
instructions and were all saved; however, there was not an Egyptian home without a death. In his
anger and sadness, Pharaoh finally freed the Israelites. They left quickly, without even enough
time for their bread to rise. God commanded the Israelites to never forget how they had been
saved from slavery and to celebrate their deliverance every year8. This celebration is known as
Pesach9.
This story not only provides the historical background for the Jewish festival, but also
offers symbolic meaning to the Jewish perception and anticipation of the Messiah. Just as the
Israelites desired a Savior to free them from bondage in Egypt, Jews throughout history have
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
6
Exodus 2-4. NLT Study Bible, New Living Translation. 2nd Ed. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
7
Exodus 5:1. NLT Study Bible, New Living Translation. 2nd Ed. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
8
Exodus 5-12. NLT Study Bible, New Living Translation. 2nd Ed. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
9
Reese, Dr. W. J. Judaism Part 4. Viterbo University. 2014. Lecture.
5
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waited for a Savior to free them from the evils of this world, both political and spiritual. The
annual celebration of Pesach reminds Jews to yearn for the coming Messiah and Deliverer10.
The Festival
As described above, the guidelines for Pesach are outlined in the Torah. Since the time of
Moses, the month containing Pesach has been the first month of the Hebrew calendar11. This
month is called Nisan, and it occurs between March and April of the Gregorian calendar12.
Pesach begins on the fifteenth day of Nisan and lasts for seven days; however, Orthodox
communities and Jews living outside the nation of Israel typically celebrate for eight days13 14.
The difference lies in the fact that the Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycles15, and in
ancient times the rabbis had to set the dates for the first of the month and subsequent festivals
accordingly. Thus, messengers were sent out with the news to outlying communities outside of
Jerusalem. However, communication was much slower then and it was feared that the
messengers would not make it to some communities in time. Therefore, to accommodate for
slow communication, an extra day was added at the beginning of the festival so that they were
guaranteed to not miss the required rituals of the first day. Though this type of communication
no longer takes place, many communities have continued to observe the extra day of the
festival16.
10
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 373374, 380-381.
11
Exodus 12. NLT Study Bible, New Living Translation. 2nd Ed. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
12
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 380.
13
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
14
Dreyfus, Ben. “Is Passover 7 or 8 Days?” Reform Judaism.org. 2014. http://www.reformjudaism.org/passover-7or-8-days.
15
Reese, Dr. W. J. Judaism Part 4. Viterbo University. 2014. Lecture.
16
Dreyfus, Ben. “Is Passover 7 or 8 Days?” Reform Judaism.org. 2014. http://www.reformjudaism.org/passover-7or-8-days.
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Pesach is one of the three pilgrimage festivals in Judaism. The other two festivals are
Sukkot, the harvest festival in which Jewish people live in temporary huts throughout the
festival, and Shavuot, the festival commemorating how God gave Moses the Torah on Mount
Sinai. During ancient times when the Temple was in Jerusalem, the people would make a
pilgrimage to the Temple during Pesach to offer prayers and sacrifices to God. However, after
the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 C.E. the practice shifted to gatherings in the
synagogues and homes17.
Though the festival lasts only seven or eight days, preparation for Pesach begins weeks in
advance. One of the most distinctive parts of Pesach is the riddance of all yeast, also called
leaven or chametz. This includes anything made from wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt, and
some Jews also remove all rice, corn, peanuts, and legumes. The people are not allowed to eat
chametz or have it in their house or property18. This includes any yeast chametz products found
in pet food. This practice is in remembrance of how their ancestors did not have time to let their
bread rise when fleeing from Egypt and could only take unleavened bread, called matzah19. “It is
also a symbolic way of removing the ‘puffiness’ (arrogance, pride) from our souls20.”
The process of removing chametz is a labor-intensive process. It includes thoroughly
scrubbing all cupboards, floors, stoves, and refrigerators and covering all surfaces that have
come in contact with chametz with foil or clear liner. Some even clean with a Q-tip or toothpick
to make sure every edge is clean21. To avoid using cookware and silverware that has come in
17
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 378382.
18
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
19
Rich, Tracey R. “Pesach: Passover.” Judaism 101.org. 2011. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm.
20
Rich, Tracey R. “Pesach: Passover.” Judaism 101.org. 2011. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm.
21
Rich, Tracey R. “Pesach: Passover.” Judaism 101.org. 2011. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm.
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contact with chametz, families have separate sets just for Pesach22. Because all chametz –
including food products, pet food, cookware, and silverware – must be completely out of the
people’s lives and cannot just be taken out of sight from the house, some people choose to sell
their chametz to non-Jews and buy it back after the festival is completed. Because the removal of
pet food containing chametz is also required, some Jews choose to change their pet’s diet during
the festival while others choose to sell the pet with the other chametz and buy it back later. On
the day before Pesach begins, a final search is done throughout the home and property, and any
remaining chametz is burned23 24.
Additionally, there are more restrictions the people must follow during Pesach. On the
day before Pesach begins, all firstborn males participate in a minor feast commemorating that
God spared all of the Israelite firstborn males when the Angel of Death passed through Egypt25.
Furthermore, during the first two days and the last two days of the festival the people may not
work and must observe limited travel so they can spend more time focusing on God26.
The most prominent part of Pesach is the Seder meal. In communities that celebrate a
seven-day festival, this takes place on the first night; in communities that celebrate an eight-day
festival, this takes place the first two nights27 28. The purpose of the Seder meal is share a
celebratory meal with family and to retell the story of the Exodus through special foods, songs,
poems, and commentaries. The food is arranged on a special Seder plate to help retell the story.
22
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 380381.
23
Rich, Tracey R. “Pesach: Passover.” Judaism 101.org. 2011. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm.
24
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
25
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
26
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 380.
27
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
28
Rich, Tracey R. “Pesach: Passover.” Judaism 101.org. 2011. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm.
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Though many people celebrate this in the home with family and friends, some synagogues also
offer community Seder meals29 30 31.
The word “seder” means “order,” and this definition describes how the Seder meal is
conducted. There are fifteen separate steps to the meal that must be followed in order, and these
are outlined in the ancient text called the Haggadah. The first step is Kaddesh (Sanctification) in
which a blessing is said over the wine and the first glass is drunk. The next step is Urechatz
(Washing) in which the people wash their hands to prepare to eat. In the third step, Karpas
(Vegetable), the people eat a bitter vegetable dipped in salt water, usually parsley, to remind
them of their ancestors’ bitter years in slavery. The fourth step, Yachatz (Breaking), is when the
people break the unleavened bread, part of which is used as the afikomen and is hidden for the
children to find later in the night. The next step is Maggid (Story) in which the story of the
Exodus is retold from the Seder leader, usually head male figure. This retelling is begun by the
youngest attender asking four specified questions about the proceedings32. The first question is,
“Why is this night different from all other nights?” The questioner then describes the differences
he sees by saying: (1) “On all other nights we eat bread or matzah, but on this night we eat only
matzah; (2) On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we
have to eat bitter herbs; (3) On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables in salt water, but on
this night we dip them twice; (4) On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night
29
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 381.
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
31
“Passover” Reform Judaism.org. 2014. http://www.reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/passover.
32
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
30
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we eat reclining33.” Then questions are then answered by the retelling and a second glass of wine
is drunk34 35.
The Seder meal continues with Rachtzah (Washing) in which the people wash their hands
again to prepare to eat. During the seventh step, Motzi Matzah (Blessings), blessings are said
over the meal and the matzah. The eighth step is Maror (Bitter Herbs) in which the people eat a
mixture of horseradish, apples, nuts, cinnamon, and wine to symbolize their slavery and the
mortar they were forced to make as slaves. The nineth step, Korech (Sandwich) is to eat the
Maror mixture with a piece of matzah. During the next step, Shulchan Orech (Dinner) the
complete meal is eaten, though there are no specific foods that must be eaten at this time. At the
next step, Tzafun (Dessert/Afikomen), the children look for the hidden afikomen and are allowed
to eat it when it is found. The twelfth step is Barech (Grace) in which a blessing is said over the
third glass of wine and it is drunk. At this point the fourth glass of wine is poured by not drunk,
and a cup of wine is set aside for the Prophet Elijah, who is believed to come to the Seder meal
to “herald the Messiah.” The next step is Hallel (Song) in which a blessing is said over the fourth
cup of wine and it is drunk. Finally, the last step is Nirtzah (Closing) in which a blessing is said
over the coming year, specifically praying that the Messiah will come, and the Seder is
completed36 37.
The rest of Pesach may consist of gatherings at the synagogue and time devoted to
contemplating God and reading the Torah. Work and travel are permitted after the Seder until the
last two days of the festival, but then those activities are once again restricted. Once the festival
Pelaia, Ariela. “What Are the Four Questions on Passover?” About.com-Judaism. 2014.
http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/What-Are-The-Four-Questions-On-Passover.htm.
34
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
35
Rich, Tracey R. “Pesach: Passover.” Judaism 101.org. 2011. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm.
36
“Passover-Pesach: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library.org. 2014.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html.
37
Rich, Tracey R. “Pesach: Passover.” Judaism 101.org. 2011. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm.
33
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is complete, the people are allowed to buy back all chametz and may return to their work, travel,
and regular diets. However, though they return to the normality of life, the essence of Pesach is
always in their hearts as they are continually thankful for redemption from slavery and
expectantly await the coming of the Messiah38 39.
Pesach & Christianity
Pesach also has special meaning and commemoration in Christianity, a religion that was
founded in Judaism and shares many of the same beliefs of the Jewish people. Though Christians
do not participate in the rituals of the festival of Pesach, they recognize this as the time when
Jesus Christ – the deity and central figure of Christianity – was crucified and rose again. This is
the most significant moment of the life and ministry of Jesus and in Christian faith. According to
the Gospels, because Jesus was a Jewish man, He celebrated the Passover, presumably the Seder
meal, with his disciples before being arrested and put on trial. During this meal, He took the
unleavened bread and wine and explained that these would now represent His body and blood in
the new covenant between God and humanity. These elements are now celebrated as the
Eucharist in Christian churches all over the world. After the meal, Jesus was arrested in the
Garden of Gethsemane, put on trial, tortured, crucified, and buried, though he rose from the dead
after three days and ascended to Heaven after forty days on earth40.
Just as Pesach has symbolic meaning for Jews, Christians make symbolic connections
between the Hebrews’ slavery in Egypt, the Exodus, and Jesus’ death on the cross during
Passover. Christians understand themselves, as well as all humanity, to be like slaves in this
world, burdened by the evils of sin. Just as Moses came to deliver the people from slavery and
38
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 380381.
39
Reese, Dr. W. J. Judaism Part 4. Viterbo University. 2014. Lecture.
40
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 404408
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bring them to the Promised Land, Jesus came to Earth as the Deliverer to save people from the
bondage of sin and bring them to a better place. This “better place” has dual meanings: a
relationship with God during this human life and acceptance into Heaven upon death.
Furthermore, just like the Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a perfect lamb and place its
blood on their doorposts, Jesus died on the cross as the perfect Lamb of God, having never
sinned and, yet, being sacrificed so the people could be saved. Finally, Christians take
significance from the fact that Jesus’ death on the cross took place during the Passover festival,
symbolizing that He fulfilled the law established by Moses after the Exodus and began a new
covenant between the God and humanity.
However, these Christian beliefs about the significance of Passover demonstrate the
primary difference that splits Christianity and Judaism. While Christians recognize Jesus as the
Deliverer and Savior of humanity, Jews see Him only as a good teacher, not as divinity, and are
still waiting for the Messiah to come to the earth41. Thus, though Jews and Christians share many
of the same beliefs about the Old Testament and Biblical history, Jesus’ death on the cross
during Passover provides a point in history at which Christianity and Judaism forever separate.
Conclusion
After examining the Jewish festival Pesach, I have come to a better understanding of
what this festival, and the story behind it, truly means to the Jewish people. I have examined the
festival of Pesach from the Jewish perspective to show that it is both a commemoration of
freedom from slavery and an expectant celebration of the coming Messiah In my research, I
discovered the historical context of Pesach as found in the Hebrew Torah; the guidelines of the
festival including the timing and length, restrictions, and the steps of the Seder meal; and the
connections that can be made between the Jewish and Christian perceptions of Pesach. The most
41
Brodd, Jeffrey, Layne Little, et al. An Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 374.
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significant part of my research has been learning that the Jewish people are exceedingly
dedicated in their love for God and obedience of His commands. The moment in my research
that stands out to me most is discovering that on the very night the Angel of Death was coming
God told Moses, in the midst of His commands about sacrificing the lambs to save the people,
that they should always commemorate that night with a celebration, and they are still doing this
today. I am amazed at the lengths the people go to in following God’s commands, from
scrubbing every inch of their houses to remove the chametz to following each single step of the
Seder in very exact detail. Furthermore, the people do this every year as part of their covenant
with Him. In researching, I was challenged in my own relationship with God about whether I
demonstrate this same level of commitment to Him in my actions. Though there are some
differences between Judaism and Christianity, they both share this aspect of commitment to God
and His Word. I can apply some of the knowledge I have gained in my research about dedication
and obedience to God to my own life as I grow in my relationships with God and those around
me.