Deliberately Diverse represents the individual thoughts and opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything, but are gratified by the opportunity to stimulate deliberately diverse discussions in our beloved community.
Today’s column represents the thoughts and opinions of Francis Sorrow, NOT the Taylor Press.
Pesach is the major spring holiday in the Jewish calendar. This year it started at sundown, Wednesday April 5, and lasted for seven days in Israel and eight days outside of Israel.
The holiday celebrates our emancipation from slavery in Egypt around 3,300 years ago. And contrary to some movies and artworks, we did not build pyramids. Those had been around for more than 1,000 years when the Exodus took place.
Exodus 12:13 describes how the Israelites were to mark their doorways with a lamb’s blood so God would pass over their houses when He initiated the 10th plague – the death of the first born.
Exodus 12:14-16 then states, “This day shall be to you one of remembrance. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord throughout the ages. You shall celebrate it as an institution for all time. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the very first day you shall remove leaven from your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day to the seventh day, shall be cut off from Israel. You shall celebrate a sacred occasion on the first day.”
Pesach was one of the three pilgrimage festivals during Temple times, and the most important holiday of the year.
Today, Peach is still one of our most celebrated holidays. On the first two nights there is a festive family or congregational dinner, called a Seder, which means order, since the story of the Exodus is retold in a specific order from books called Haggadahs.
There are many versions of Haggadahs.
Common to most, are the discussion of the seder plate items, drinking four cups of wine and opening the door to the prophet Elijah.
The Seder plate contains items that recall the bitterness of slavery and the hasty departure from Egypt. These include a roasted lamb bone, a roasted egg, parsley, horseradish, etc.
Google Seder plate for a complete list and pictures.
Other features are saltwater, matzahs and wine.
After the second cup of wine, a break is made for a festive meal. Then, the Seder resumes with blessings, songs and the drinking of the last two cups of wine. Almost all traditions derive from the Book of Exodus. For example, we drink four cups of wine, or grape juice, for the four promises God made to Israel in Exodus 6:6-7. The Seder concludes with the words, “Next year, in Jerusalem.”
In Jerusalem, the word restored is added.
One thing surprises many non Jews who attend a traditional Jewish Seder. Moses’ name is never mentioned. Why? Moses was chosen by God to lead the people out of bondage, but God alone was our Deliverer.
