Judaism: Pesach | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Pesach

Pesach, also known as Passover, commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.

• The narrative of Passover is found in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 12 of the Torah.
• God instructed the Jewish people to observe this festival annually as a symbol of freedom:

"This day must be one that you will remember. You must keep it as a festival to God for all generations. It is a law for all time that you must celebrate it" (Exodus 12:14).

• Often called the Festival of Freedom, prayers are offered each year for those who remain oppressed.
• The holiday recalls how, over 3,000 years ago, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, leaving slavery behind.
• Moses repeatedly approached the Pharaoh, who consistently refused to free the Israelites.
• Moses warned that God would send ten plagues upon Egypt if the Pharaoh did not comply.

• During the final plague, God instructed Moses to have the Israelites mark their doorposts with lamb’s blood.
  • This signaled to the angel of death that Jewish families lived there, sparing their firstborn children.
  • The term "Passover" originates from the angel passing over these marked homes.
• In the final plague, even the Pharaoh’s son perished, prompting him to summon Moses and order the immediate departure of the Israelites.
• After more than 200 years of enslavement, the Jewish people gained their freedom.

How is Pesach Celebrated?

Pesach involves specific preparations and rituals to honor the Exodus story.

• In preparation, Jews remove all grain products, known as chametz, from their homes.
  • Grain is prohibited during the festival.
  • Leavened foods (containing yeast), such as bread, beer, and oats, are removed, and homes are thoroughly cleaned to eliminate any traces.
  • This practice reflects the haste of the Israelites’ departure, leaving no time for bread to rise.
• Candles are lit to usher in Pesach.
• Families attend synagogue services, where special prayers are recited and passages from the Torah are read.
• A significant ritual is the Seder Meal, which includes symbolic foods:
  • A lamb bone, representing the sacrificial lamb.
  • A boiled egg, symbolizing new life.
  • A green vegetable dipped in salt water, signifying the tears of the enslaved Jews.
  • Bitter herbs, reflecting the bitterness of slavery.
  • Charoset, a paste of apples, walnuts, and wine, symbolizing the mortar used by slaves in construction.
  • Unleavened bread (Matzah), recalling the haste of the exodus when bread could not rise.
  • Four glasses of wine, symbolizing joy, are consumed.
  • An additional glass of wine is set aside for the Prophet Elijah, who is believed to return to herald the Messiah.
  • Wine also represents the lamb’s blood used to mark doorposts, protecting Jewish children during the final plague.
• The Seder plate’s foods each symbolize an aspect of the Exodus story, which is retold during the meal using the Haggadah, a book of rituals.