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Title: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by wildhaus on Apr 9th, 2006, 7:28am Passover April 13, 2006 (Jewish Year 5766) is probably the best known of the Jewish holidays, mostly because it ties in with Christian history (the Last Supper was apparently a Passover seder), and because a lot of its observances have been reinterpreted by Christians as Messianic and signs of Jesus. Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot). The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Passover observances are instituted in Chs. 12-15. The name "Passover" refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In Hebrew, it is known as Pesach (that "ch" is pronounced as in the Scottish "loch" ) , which is based on the Hebrew root meaning "pass over". The holiday is also referred to as Chag he-Aviv (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzoth (the Festival of Matzahs), and Zeman Herutenu (the Time of Our Freedom) (again, all with those Scottish "ch"s). Probably the most significant observance related to Passover involves the removal of chametz (leaven; sounds like "hum it's" with that Scottish ch) from our homes. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls. Chametz includes anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water We may not eat chametz during Passover; we may not even own it or derive benefit from it. We may not even feed it to our pets or cattle. The process of cleaning the home of all chametz is an enormous task. To do it right, you must spend several days scrubbing everything down, going over the edges of your stove and fridge with a toothpick and a Q-Tip, covering all surfaces that come in contact with foil or shelf-liner, etc., etc., etc. After the cleaning is completed, the morning before the seder, a formal search of the house for chametz is undertaken, and any remaining chametz is burned.The grain product we eat during Passover is called matzah. Matzah is unleavened bread, made simply from flour and water and cooked very quickly. This is the bread that the Jews made for their flight from Egypt. We have come up with many inventive ways to use matzah; it is available in a variety of textures for cooking: matzah flour (finely ground), matzah meal (coarsely ground), matzah farfel (little chunks, used as a noodle substitute), and full-sized matzahs (about 10 inches square, a bread substitute). On the first night of Passover, we have a special family meal filled with ritual to remind us of the significance of the holiday. This meal is called a seder, from a Hebrew root word meaning "order." It is the same root from which we derive the word "siddur" (prayer book). There is a specific set of information that must be covered in a specific order. This is the seder. Passover lasts for seven days (eight days outside of Israel). The first and last days of the holiday (first two and last two outside of Israel) are days on which no work is permitted. Work is permitted on the intermediate days. These intermediate days on which work is permitted are referred to as Chol Ha-Mo'ed, Next post the SEDER |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by wildhaus on Apr 9th, 2006, 7:30am The Passover Seder The text of the Passover seder is written in a book called the Haggadah. The content of the seder can be summed up by the following Hebrew rhyme: 1. Kaddesh: Sanctification This is a blessing over wine in honor of the holiday. The wine is drunk, and a second cup is poured. 2. Urechatz: Washing A washing of the hands without a blessing, in preparation for eating the Karpas. 3. Karpas: Vegetable A vegetable (usually parsley) is dipped in salt water and eaten. The vegetable symbolizes the lowly origins of the Jewish people; the salt water symbolizes the tears shed as a result of our slavery. 4. Yachatz: Breaking One of the three matzahs on the table is broken. Part is returned to the pile, the other part is set aside for the afikomen 5. Maggid: The Story A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Passover. This begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the seder. The Four Questions are also known as Mah Nishtanah (Why is it different?), which are the first words of the Four Questions. The maggid is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of people: the wise son, who wants to know the technical details; the wicked son, who excludes himself (and learns the penalty for doing so); the simple son, who needs to know the basics; and the son who is unable to ask, the one who doesn't even know enough to know what he needs to know. At the end of the maggid, a blessing is recited over the second cup of wine and it is drunk. 6. Rachtzah: Washing A second washing of the hands, this time with a blessing, in preparation for eating the matzah. 7. Motzi: Blessing over Grain Products The ha-motzi blessing, a generic blessing for bread or grain products used as a meal, is recited over the matzah. 8. Matzah: Blessing over Matzah A blessing specific to matzah is recited, and a bit of matzah is eaten. 9. Maror: Bitter Herbs A blessing is recited over a bitter vegetable (usually raw horseradish; sometimes romaine lettuce), and it is eaten. This symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. The maror is eaten with charoses, a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine, which symbolizes the mortar used by the Jews in building during their slavery. 10. Korech: The Sandwich Rabbi Hillel was of the opinion that the maror should be eaten together with matzah and the paschal offering in a sandwich. In his honor, we eat some maror on a piece of matzah, with some charoses (we don't do animal sacrifice anymore, so there is no paschal offering). 11. Shulchan Orech: Dinner A festive meal is eaten. There is no particular requirement regarding what to eat at this meal (except, of course, that chametz cannot be eaten). Among Ashkenazic Jews, gefilte fish and matzah ball soup are traditionally eaten at the beginning of the meal. 12. Tzafun: The Afikomen The piece of matzah set aside earlier is eaten as "desert," the last food of the meal. Different families have different traditions relating to the afikomen. Some have the children hide it, while the parents have to either find it or ransom it back. Others have the parents hide it. The idea is to keep the children awake and attentive throughout the pre-meal proceedings, waiting for this part. 13. Barech: Grace after Meals The third cup of wine is poured, and grace after meals is recited. This is similar to the grace that would be said on any Sabbath. At the end, a blessing is said over the third cup and it is drunk. The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah, who is supposed to herald the Messiah, and is supposed to come on Passover to do this. The door is opened for a while at this point (supposedly for Elijah, but historically because Jews were accused of nonsense like putting the blood of Christian babies in matzah, and we wanted to show our Christian neighbors that we weren't doing anything unseemly). 14. Hallel: Praises Several psalms are recited. A blessing is recited over the last cup of wine and it is drunk. 15. Nirtzah: Closing A simple statement that the seder has been completed, with a wish that next year, we may celebrate Passover in Jerusalem (i.e., that the Messiah will come within the next year). This is followed by various hymns and stories. I will add this year to this statement AND A PAIN FREE FOR ALL!!!! Wish you all a Kosher Pesach and PAIN FREE TIME Michael |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by JenniferD on Apr 9th, 2006, 7:37am because I am a cultural moron, I need to ask... what does a non-jewish person say to a jewish person during passover? does one wish someone "good passover", happy passover??, I admit I am ashamed of the fact that I have no clue and sincerely want to know. Jen |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by Melissa on Apr 9th, 2006, 7:43am wildhaus, thank you for the education on what Jewish people do on Passover. I like to learn about others customs. :)mel |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by wildhaus on Apr 9th, 2006, 7:50am on 04/09/06 at 07:37:19, JenniferD wrote:
I will give you the Hebrew Way: chag-sa'meah ve Pesah Kasher I think in the USA you would use the Jiddish way and then I am the cultural moron. Michael |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by JenniferD on Apr 9th, 2006, 8:04am googled it. Translates to A Happy and Kosher Passover? |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by wildhaus on Apr 9th, 2006, 9:22am on 04/09/06 at 08:04:01, JenniferD wrote:
SO IT IS!! chag-sa'meah ve Pesah Kasher |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by zwibbs/Scott on Apr 9th, 2006, 9:22am It is always wonderful when Passover and Easter are around the same time. The last supper was Jesus' Seder meal. |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by cardogman on Apr 9th, 2006, 9:37am Good Yuntiff Michael and a Zizen Pesach. Burt the Jew |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by sandie99 on Apr 9th, 2006, 10:07am Michael, that was fascinating! Thank you. :) Now I don't have to embaress my cousin's boyfriend (who is also Jewish) with all my questions about his faith. chag-sa'meah ve Pesah Kasher! Best wishes, Sanna P.S. we Finns say: Hyvää Pääsiäistä (Happy Easter)! |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by wildhaus on Apr 9th, 2006, 11:26am Hi Sanna Wish you a nice Trip to Prague and Hyvää Pääsiäistä-Happy Easter. And most of all PF time!!! Michael |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by sandie99 on Apr 9th, 2006, 1:04pm on 04/09/06 at 11:26:24, wildhaus wrote:
Thank you, Michael! :) Sanna |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by BobG on Apr 9th, 2006, 6:52pm I am not of the Jewish faith but I do find the history and traditions of the Jewish people facinating. Thanks for the lesson, Michael. Have a Happy and Kosher Passover. |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by Richr8 on Apr 9th, 2006, 6:56pm chag-sa'meah ve Pesah Kasher ;) |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by FramCire on Apr 9th, 2006, 7:36pm Interestingly enough, most Christian theologians say that the last supper was a seder but DiVinci in his famous painting "The Last Supper" had levened bread on the tables. I know this because our church did a live reinactment of the DiVinci painting and this was a topic of disucssion. Either way, Easter and Passover will alway be within a few week of each other because of this fact. The Hebrew calendar uses a leap "month" and thus why holidays land on different parts of the American calendar. Anyway, Passover is probably the 2nd most well known holiday in the US. Hanukkah is probably #1 because of Christmas. I think any American Jew would be fine if you just wished them a Happy Passover. The holiday should be a happy one (witha touch of sorrow for the lives of the first born lost), so "Happy Passover (or Pesach)" should be good enough as a well wish. wildhaus: chag-sa'meah ve Pesah Kasher. Have you completed your passover cleaning yet? My father was almost done last I heard. |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by JenniferD on Apr 10th, 2006, 6:01am Happy Passover Michael :) and thank you again for all of the information. Jen |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by Charlie on Apr 10th, 2006, 5:21pm Interesting Michael. Thanks. I learned a couple of things too. Charlie |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by medic1852 on Apr 10th, 2006, 5:35pm Thanks for sharing your culture...not to be a butt head or stir some stuff but to keep an open mind if there are any Muslims in the house could you be so kind as to share also? Rodger |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by sandie99 on Apr 11th, 2006, 2:02am on 04/10/06 at 17:35:40, medic1852 wrote:
I like to learn about different cultures. I think it would be fantastic if we could use this site also to learn more about each other and each others cultures. Personally I think that I've wasted a day if I didn't learn something new. :) Best wishes & PFdays, Sanna |
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Title: Re: Passover April 13, 2006 Post by wildhaus on Apr 12th, 2006, 3:11pm HI AS IT IS THE PESAH EVE AND THE "SEDER" IS ON....... WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OF YOU....... chag-sa'meah ve Pesah Kasher - A Happy and Kosher Passover Good Yuntiff and a Zizen Pesach. A simple statement that endsthae seder and a wish that next year, we may celebrate Passover in Jerusalem (i.e., that the Messiah will come within the next year). I will add this year to this statement AND A PAIN FREE FOR ALL!!!! AND MAY GOD BLESS US ALL WE LOVE YOU ALL Michael & Marta JJ & Ben |
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