Daily Living - Class #37

Transcription

1 Daily Living - Class #37 An overview of the Jewish year, and all about Passover. By Rabbi Shraga Simmons This class contains multi-media segments that are available online JewishPathways.com 1

2 Cycles of Time The Hebrew word for holiday is Moed, literally "a fixed time." Implicit in this is the idea that the Jewish calendar is not linear. We do not simply move through time, where a holiday commemorates an event. Rather, Jewish time is cyclical; each year we return to that spiritual reality, tap into the energy of the day, and relive the experience. It is unique opportunity for personal growth. 1 There are a few different patterns that emerge in the Jewish year. The most obvious is the set of three pilgrimage festivals: Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. The Torah (Exodus 34:23) tells us that on these days, all able-bodied people should appear in Jerusalem for a national celebration of service to God. In Hebrew, this is called the Shalosh Regalim. Another discernable pattern in the Jewish year follows the historical events of the Jewish year 2448 (1312 BCE). Nissan 15 - On this date, the Israelites celebrated the first Passover Seder, and were liberated from Egypt. Sivan 6 - Fifty days later, the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai and received the Torah. Moses then went up the mountain to receive further instruction. 1 See Bnei Yissoschar (Ma amar Kiddush HaChodesh Nissan 1:4; Introduction to Vol. 2) 2

3 Tammuz 17 - Forty days later, the people built an idolatrous Golden Calf, and Moses broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments. First of Elul - Moses completed 40 days on Mount Sinai, praying to God to forgive the Jewish people. Tishrei 10 - Moses descended from Mount Sinai after a third set of 40 days. He returned with a new set of tablets, signifying that God had forgiven the Jewish people. This day became known thereafter as the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. 2 Hebrew Months If you look in the Torah, you'll see that the Hebrew months don't have names. Rather they have numbers, counting from the month of Nissan, which is described as "the first month" (Exodus 12:2). The names we use today are Babylonian in origin, adapted by the Jews during the Babylonian Exile, circa 400 CE. Ironically, a few are names of Babylonian idols. Yet even though the names of the months are linguistically Babylonian, they were adopted by the Jews with the understanding that they were Divinely-inspired names, and are laden with kabbalistic nuances. 3 Interestingly, there are actually two ways to look at the Jewish year. One is to view the year as beginning with Rosh Hashana (the first day 2 Rashi (Exodus 18:13) 3 Ramban (Exodus 12:2); Bnei Yissoschar (Ma amar Chodesh Nissan 1:6-7) 3

4 of Tishrei, in the fall). However, as noted above, the Torah refers to Nissan as "the first month" (coinciding with Passover in the spring). 4 How are these two ideas rectified? In the Jewish calendar, we count the new year by Tishrei/Rosh Hashana, but we count the order of months by Nissan. We ll now take a full tour of the Jewish calendar, starting with Passover in the spring: Passover (Nissan 15) Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is known as the "holiday of freedom," 5 commemorating the Jewish Exodus from Egypt following 210 years of slavery. Passover is regarded as the "birth" of the Jewish nation, and its lessons of struggle and identity continue to form the basis of Jewish consciousness 3,300 years after the event. Passover is an 8-day holiday (in Israel, seven days). The name derives from the fact that during the final plague the slaying of the first born God "passed over" the Jewish homes. 6 Shabbat HaGadol - The Shabbat prior to Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol. This commemorates the day on which each Israelite family took a Pascal lamb and tied it to the bedpost, in preparation for the Passover Seder which would come five days later. 7 Disposing of Chametz - The days (and weeks) prior to Passover are spent cleaning one s home of all chametz (leavened grain products), as these are forbidden for consumption (and even ownership) during 4 Talmud - Rosh Hashana Orach Chaim 490:7 6 Exodus 12:27 7 Orach Chaim 430:1, with Mishnah Berurah 1 4

5 the week of Passover. 8 9 We dispose of (or sell) all bread, cookies, pasta, beer, etc. and purchase only products labeled "Kosher for Passover." To avoid any problems of residual chametz, we also have special sets of dishes and pots for Passover. On the night before Passover (14 Nissan), there is a final inspection of one s home, called Bedikat Chametz. This is followed by a declaration nullifying the chametz. 10 The following morning, the eating of chametz becomes prohibited from mid-morning, and all leftover chametz is burned (Sraifat Chametz). This is followed by a slightly different declaration nullifying the chametz. 11 When a financial loss is involved, it is possible to sell one s chametz to a non-jew prior to Passover. This must be a legally valid sale. Any food that is sold must be put in a cabinet and taped shut. At the conclusion of Passover, a mechanism in the sale enables the chametz to revert to Jewish ownership. This procedure is complex, and should be done only by a qualified rabbi. 12 Fast of the First-Born - On the day before Passover, it is a custom for all Jewish first-born males to fast, in commemoration of the slaying of the first-born Egyptians. In practice, many have the custom to attend the completion of a Talmudic tractate (siyum); this permits one to break the fast in order to celebrate the siyum Exodus 13:3, 7 9 Foods called "kitniyot" (rice, corn, beans, seeds), though they cannot technically become chametz, are not eaten by Ashkenazi Jews on Passover. The Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. (Orach Chaim 453) 10 Orach Chaim 431:1, 434:2 11 Orach Chaim 443:1 12 Orach Chaim 445:3 13 Orach Chaim 470:1, with Mishnah Berurah 10 5

6 Pre-Passover On the night of 14 Nissan, before beginning the search for chametz, say: Båruch Atå Adonoy, Eloheinu Melech Hå olåm,. asher kidishånu bi mitzvo tåv, vi tzivånu al bi ur chåmetz. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us about removing the chametz. After concluding the search for chametz, say: Kol chamirå vacha mi å d ikå virshutee d lå chamitay ood lå vi artay. ood lå yådanå lay Livå tale v lehevay hef kare k afrå d arå. Any chametz or leaven that is in my possession which I have not seen, have not removed and do not know about, should be annulled and become ownerless, like dust of the earth. The next morning, after burning the chametz, say: Kol chamirå vachami å d ikå virshutee,, Dacha zitay ood lå chazitay, da cha mitay,., ood lå chamitay, d vi artay ud lå vi artay, Livå tale v lehevay hefkare k afrå d arå. Any chametz or leaven that is in my possession, whether I have recognized it or not, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have removed it or not, should be annulled and become ownerless, like dust of the earth.

7 Seder Night - Passover is marked by an elaborate Seder on the first two nights (in Israel, on the first night only). The Seder (literally "order") is designed to give each Jew the experience of "going from slavery unto freedom." As recorded in the Haggadah, we tell the Exodus story, recount the Ten Plagues, and eat symbols of slavery and freedom. We also eat bitter herbs 14 (to recall the harsh Egyptian slavery), and drink four cups of wine corresponding to the four expressions of freedom mentioned in the Torah (Exodus 6:6-7). 15 Matzah - At the Seder, it is a special mitzvah to eat matzah. The most common reason for eating matzah is that on the morning of the Exodus, the Jews were so rushed in getting out of Egypt that the bread didn't have time to rise. Throughout the week of Passover as well, we eat matzah in place of our usual staple of bread. 16 Chol HaMoed - The intermediate days of Passover (and also of Sukkot) are called Chol HaMoed, literally the non-holiday holidays. The idea is that even though the entire week does not carry a prohibition of creative activity (melacha), the festival should still be a special time of limited involvement in one s everyday affairs. Thus throughout Chol HaMoed people wear their holiday clothes, the prayer services are lengthened, Torah study is increased and work is curtailed Orach Chaim 475:1 15 Talmud Pesachim 99b; Orach Chaim Exodus 12:18, 39; 13:6 17 Orach Chaim 530, with Mishnah Berurah 1, 2 7

8 Seventh Day of Passover - Seven days after the Exodus from Egypt, the Jews came to a true crossroads: the vast Sea of Reeds in front of them, and Pharaoh s pursuing army behind them. The sea miraculously split, and the Jews walked through on dry land. Just as miraculously, the sea closed back to drown the pursuing Egyptian soldiers. Today, the Seventh Day of Passover (plus the 8th day in the Diaspora) is a Yom Tov, with the incumbent restrictions on work. 18 Pesach Sheni In the days of Moses, certain Jews were unable to bring the Passover lamb offering, due to their having contracted a (temporary) spiritual impurity (tuma in Hebrew). As such, they were given a "second chance" to bring the Passover lamb, one month later on 14 Iyar. This day is known as Pesach Sheni, the Second Passover. 19 It teaches us a great principle of Torah: that although we may make mistakes, God gives us the opportunity to make amends Exodus 14:5, with Rashi; Leviticus 23:8 19 Numbers 9:11 20 See Mishnah Halachot 16:86 8