“True freedom is not to escape from something, but have something to live for.”
— Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

1) What is Passover and what it commemorates

Passover it is one of the three pilgrimage feasts of the bible. Commemorates the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt and the “step” (pesach) of the plague on the houses marked with the blood of the lamb (Ex 12). It is celebrated from the 15th of Nisan (march/April) by 7 days in Israel and 8 in the Diaspora (see why below).

2) biblical Sources essential

• Korban Passover (offering pascual) and matzah: Ex 12; regulatory annual: Ex 13; Lev 23:5-8; Num 9:1-14; Deut 16:1-8. (Primary text in Hebrew/English available in Sefaria; legal structure and narrative of the rite).
• Passover Shení (Second Passover): those who were unable to bring the offering on the 14th of Nisan, they could do it a month later, on the 14th of Iyar (Num 9). Today he is remembered eating matzah, without korban.

“Passover is not an event of the past, but the ongoing opportunity of redemption in the present.”
— Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

3) Schedule and duration (7 or 8 days)

The biblical mandate it is seven days of Jag HaMatzot; the practice of eight days in the Diaspora it is a decree rabbinical historical by the ancient uncertainty of the lunar calendar (yom tov shení shel galuiot). In Israel and in great part of the reform judaism: 7 days.

4) Preparation and prohibitions (jametz)

• Jametz: it is prohibited to possess and consume it during the party (five grains: wheat, spelt, barley, oats and rye). Done bediká (search) biur (destruction) before noon of the 14th of Nisan; it is also used mejirát jametz (legal sale to a non-jew).
• Kitniyot: legumes and grains not leudantes (rice, beans, etc)—banned custom of ashkenazi; usually allowed to sephardic. (Base halachic and distinction in respect of the “five grains”).

5) The night of the Seder: the structure and meaning

The Seder it is the ritual meal of the 15th of Nisan (and also the of the 16 in the Diaspora), guided by the Haggadahordered to recount the exodus from Egypt, to drink four cups, eating matzo and the maror, and conclude with Hallel. The Mishnah Pesajim cap 10 fixed the dramaturgy basic (questions of the child, “Aramí oved avi”, rest as free men, etc). The 15 steps classic: Kadesh, Urjatz, Karpas, Yajatz, Maguid, Rajtzá, Motzí, Matzah, The Maror, Korej, Shulchan Orej, Tzafún, Beiraj, Hallel, Nirtzá.

“The story of the exodus from Egypt is not history: it is identity.”
— Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz

Symbolic elements main

• Matzo (unleavened bread): rush of the output and the “bread of affliction”.
• The maror (bitter herbs): the bitterness of slavery. (Treaty Pesajim and Haggadah).
• Four cups: mark sections of the story, and blessing (Kiddush; after Maguid; after Birkat Hammazón; after Hallel).
• Afikomán: the portion of matzah “hidden” which is eaten at the end, in memory of the korban pesach. (Tradition mishnaica/talmudic).

6) historical Evolution

• Biblical era and First/Second Temple: Passover as a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with sacrifice of the lamb (14 Nisan, eaten in the evening with matzah and the maror). Josephus bears witness to crowds and tensions in the Passover; following the destruction of 70 CE stop the sacrifices and the ritual migrates to the home and the synagogue, focused on the Haggadah.
• Outside of the jewish world: the samaritans preserved until today is a passover sacrifice to the community in the mount Guerizim, following Ex 12. Documented in news reports, and ethnographic.
• The Haggadah in the history of art: the Haggadah de Sarajevo (s. XIV, hispanic origin) is the illuminated manuscript the most famous; it was inscribed by UNESCO in Memory of the World (2017).

“Who forgets the taste of bitterness can not appreciate the value of freedom.”
— Talmud Bavli, Pesajim 116b

7) Halacha and contemporary practice

• Before the party: bediká the night of 13/14 of Nisan; biur before noon halachic 14; kasherizar utensils or separate them; sale of jametz remnant.
• During the party: not possess or consume jametz; eat matzah (ideally shmurá in the Seder); four bowls; complete story of the exodus from Egypt; songs and hallel.
• Holy days and chol hamoed: 1st and 7th (in Diaspora also 2 and 8) are yom tov; intermediates allow for limited work.
• Variants of habit:
  • Kitniyot: Ashkenazi usually refrain; Sephardic usually allowed with controls.
  • Second Seder in the Diaspora: continuity of the old problem of messaging/lunar calendar.
  • Passover Shení (14 Iyar): reminder with matzo; without jametz non-level festive.

8) Theology and message

Passover focuses on freedom, memory active and ethical responsibility: “in every generation, one must see himself as if he had come out of Egypt” (Mishnah Pesajim 10), connecting the redemption of historical and moral conduct this.

9) the Passover and christianity (historical data)

There is a academic debate on if the Last Supper was or was not a Seder of Passover: the Synoptic it is presented as easter; John standing before the pascal meal. Recent literature discusses the framing of ritual accurate, but all recognize the matrix easter symbolism.

“There is No slavery harder than that of the spirit that is usually not to be free.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

10) Glossary minimum

• Haggadah: book-a guide to the Seder and the story. (History and art, to see Sarajevo).
• Matzah shmurá: matzah “guarded” from the harvest to avoid leaven; preferable for the Seder.
• The Maror/Korej/Afikomán: bitterness; “sandwich” with matzah and the maror (Hillel); final portion of matzah.

11) Index of practical Seder (15 steps)

Kadesh (1 cup) → Urjatz → Karpas → Yajatz → Maguid (2nd cup) → Rajtzá → Motzí → Matzo → The maror → Korej → Shulchan Orej → Tzafún (Afikomán) → Beiraj (3rd glass) → Hallel (4th cup) → Nirtzá.

“Freedom is not a gift from the powerful, but a conquest of the conscious.”
— David Ben-Gurion