Pesaḥ (Passover)
Pesaḥ (or PassoverThe festival of Passover.) is a week-long festival in the spring time. It remembers the IsraelitesThe descendants of Jacob (who was known as Israel). The name ‘Jewish people’ is used for the Israelites after they received the Torah. being slaves for the Pharoah in Egypt for over 200 years. It is a celebration of freedom.
The festival begins with the seder – a long but interactive evening including discussion, prayer, singing, storytelling and of course a meal. This is all done in a certain order (seder is HebrewThe language of the Jewish people and of Israel. Hebrew is also used more generally to mean the culture of the Jewish people (ie. Hebrew calendar). for ‘order’) where a book called a haggadah is followed. This helps to make sure that the story of slavery and the Exodus from Egypt is passed down from generation to generation and remembered forever.
The Israelites left Egypt in a hurry, so their bread did not have time to rise. We remember this by eating matzahFlat (unleavened) bread eaten on Passover, made of just flour and water. (a flat cracker bread) throughout the festival instead of normal bread. Most Jews also avoid eating any other ḥametzLeavened (risen) foods that are not eaten on Passover. – foods which have risen, like cake. Many have a huge spring clean to make sure there are no ḥametzLeavened (risen) foods that are not eaten on Passover. crumbs anywhere in the house.
ḤametzLeavened (risen) foods that are not eaten on Passover. also symbolizes a puffed-up ego (when people think they are wonderful and very important). Getting rid of this ‘puffiness’ reminds us to be humble and appreciate the simple things in life – as we were once slaves who had no wealth or freedom.
The seder plate is filled with many symbolic foods which are eaten as part of the seder. Each one is a reminder of a different part of the story of slavery and the Exodus from Egypt.
(Exactly what is on the seder plate varies slightly across the world and family traditions!)
AUDIO : “My family have a beautiful, big seder plate that my parents received as a gift from a family friend. It’s silver with Hebrew lettering around the edges and six little bowls that sit on top to hold the different symbolic foods.
There is a brown, sticky paste called ḥaroset that is meant to look like the cement the Israelites used when they were building cities for Pharoah when they were slaves. It looks disgusting but tastes amazing. My family’s recipe is a mixture of ground almonds, date spread and wine.
There is salt water to represent the tears and the sweat of the slaves, a bone to represent the lamb offering the Israelites gave on the last night in Egypt. There is also karpas – a vegetable to represent new life, an egg symbolising the continuing cycle of life and maror – bitter herbs to remember what a bitter, awful time the slaves had. My family uses romaine lettuce, but others use horseradish. When you eat enough of the lettuce it becomes bitter, as the centre of it is the bitter part.
Seder night is one of my favourite nights of the year as it symbolises the older generations passing down the traditions and knowledge of Judaism to the younger generation. So it is a time in the year where we can all enjoy and celebrate together.”
