A Guide to a Meaningful and Enriching Pesach Page: 1 of 24

                                
YOUR GUIDE TO A MEANINGFUL AND ENRICHING PESACH
There are two major observances in the Passover holiday:
CHOMETZ AND MATZOH
We also totally avoid chometz during this period. This is symbolic of our cutting ourselves
1. The complete removal of chometz or leaven and the eating of the matzoh;
2. The retelling of the Exodus from Egypt by conducting a Seder.
The matzoh also reminds us that so abrupt was our departure from Egypt that there was not
enough time for the dough to rise. Thus, matzoh became the bread of freedom. This teaches
us that the redemption of G-d can come swiftly, in a moment, even in times of darkest
oppression. We also are reminded of our forefathers’ faithfulness who, without food, went
into a desert to follow G-d.
There was, of course, a third major observance - the bringing and eating of the Paschal
sacrifice, the lamb, which we no longer can bring due to the destruction of the Temple.
This observance is now marked symbolically by the presence of the Zeroah, shankbone, on
the Seder.
So important is the Exodus that all year long we remember it. The Exodus is mentioned in
the Shema, in our Tefillin, and in almost all our celebrations and observances. The Torah
commands us to remember the Exodus every day of our lives. However, on Passover we
actually try to relive it. The whole Seder is a reenactment of the Exodus. We symbolically
suffer slavery and then redemption. We totally are immersed in the experience of the
Exodus. This is done with the belief that only when people live it symbolically will they live
it in real life by being kind, compassionate, and loving.
Pesach is the celebration of the Exodus from Egypt. The Exodus is the starting point of our
history as a nation. In a world of darkness and oppression which often appears to be futile or
meaningless, the Exodus shines as a beacon of hope and comfort. It testifies overwhelmingly
that there is a G-d and that He is concerned about man. This is the central message of
Judaism, that G-d cares and is concerned about us. It is the bedrock upon which the Jewish
understanding of life and history rests. All Jewish life and tradition is the attempt to live by
the significance and implications of this message, the message that G-d cares about us and
wants us to help Him redeem the world.
"This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in Egypt." Immediately it is followed
by, "Let all who are hungry come in and eat; let all who are in need come and join the
Passover with us...this year (we are) slaves. Next year, (may we be) free."
During Passover we eat only matzoh, the bread of affliction. When we taste of the bread of
affliction we are reminded to give food to the hungry and freedom to the oppressed. Thus,
the introduction of the Seder goes: