Passover is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. It is observed for seven or eight days, from the 15th to the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which falls in March or April on the Gregorian calendar.
The story of Passover is told in the book of Exodus. According to the Bible, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. During this time, they were forced to work long hours and were treated cruelly by their Egyptian masters. One day, God sent Moses to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to demand that he free the Israelites. Pharaoh refused, and God then sent a series of plagues upon Egypt. The final plague was the death of the firstborn son of every Egyptian family. However, God told the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, so that the Angel of Death would pass over their homes. As a result, all of the Israelite firstborn were spared, while the firstborn of the Egyptians died.
After this final plague, Pharaoh finally agreed to free the Israelites. They fled Egypt in haste, and God led them to the Red Sea. As the Egyptians pursued them, God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to follow, the sea closed over them, drowning them.
The Israelites then wandered in the desert for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land. During this time, they were sustained by God’s provision, including the manna that fell from heaven and the water that flowed from the rock.
Passover is a time for Jews to remember and celebrate their liberation from slavery. It is also a time to reflect on the importance of freedom and the dangers of oppression. The story of Passover is also important to Christians, as it is seen as a prefiguration of the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified on the eve of Passover, and his death is seen as a sacrifice that liberates humanity from sin and death.
Passover is a time for both Jews and Christians to celebrate the power of God to deliver his people from bondage. It is also a time to reflect on the importance of freedom and the dangers of oppression.
Here are some of the ways that Passover is celebrated:
- The Seder: The Seder is a ritual meal that is held on the first night of Passover. It is a time to tell the story of the Exodus and to eat symbolic foods that represent different aspects of the story.
- The Seder Plate: The Seder Plate is a plate that is set with symbolic foods that represent different aspects of the story of the Exodus. The foods include:
- Matzo: Unleavened bread that represents the bread that the Israelites ate when they fled Egypt.
- Marror: Bitter herbs that represent the bitterness of slavery.
- Charoset: A sweet mixture of fruit and nuts that represents the mortar that the Israelites used to build the pyramids.
- Egg: A symbol of new life.
- Zeroa: A roasted shank bone that represents the lamb that was sacrificed on the eve of the Exodus.
- Beitzah: A roasted egg that represents the sacrifice that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem.
- The Four Cups of Wine: Four cups of wine are drunk during the Seder. Each cup represents a different aspect of the story of the Exodus.
- Hallel: Psalms 113-118 are sung during the Seder. These Psalms are a celebration of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.
- Birkat Hamazon: A blessing is recited after the meal. This blessing thanks God for the food and for the freedom that the Israelites experienced.
Passover is a time for Jews and Christians to celebrate the power of God to deliver his people from bondage. It is also a time to reflect on the importance of freedom and the dangers of oppression.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Randy Cooper has been in marketing technology more than 35 years. He has a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology, with a focus on web development, from the University of Phoenix. He has a Masters in Business Administration, with a focus on digital marketing, from Liberty University. In 2009, Randy founded Buzz My Biz, a consulting company focused on giving enterprise-level marketing results to small and medium-sized businesses. When he isn’t pounding away on a keyboard, he enjoys watching the Atlanta⚾️Braves, hiking, and working in the yard.
