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1 Pesach Jewish Date: Nissan 15 - Nissan 22 Secular date range: April Let the people of Israel also keep the Passover at its appointed season. In the fourteenth day of this month, at evening you shall keep it in its appointed season; according to all its rites, and according to all its ceremonies, shall you keep it. Numbers 9: 2-3 Nissan 15 Nissan 16 Nissan 17 Nissan 18 Nissan 19 Nissan 20 Nissan 21 Nissan 22 Pesach 1 Pesach 2 Pesach 3 Ch HM Pesach 4 Ch HM Pesach 5 Ch HM Pesach 6 Ch HM Pesach 7 Pesach 8 Rituals The Seder Kadeish - Kiddush (First Cup) Urchatz - Wash for vegetable Karpas - Salt water dip Yachatz - Break middle Matzah Maggid - The Passover story is told Rachtza - Washing for bread Motzi Matzah - The eating of the Matza Maror - The bitter herb Korech - Sandwich of Matzah and Maror Shulchan Orach - The festive meal Tzafun - Eat the Afikomen Barech - Birkat Hamazon Hallel - The Hallel prayer Nirtzah - Celebratory songs Seder Plate A plate is brought before the head of the household which contains three Matzot, Maror, Charoses, Karpas, and two cooked foods... Code of Jewish Law 473:4 1

2 Three Matzot Two Matzot are for Lechem Mishne ; one to break in half, one half to eat in the manner of poor bread and one half for Afikomen Commentary of Mishne Brurah Ibid (18) Egg & Shank-bone On the plate are two cooked foods, one as a remembrance of the Paschal Lamb and one a remembrance of the Chagigah sacrifice. The custom is to use meat and an egg... Code of Jewish Law 473:4 Matzah 1. Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Exodus 12:15 2. And they shall eat the meat in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Exodus 12:8 Maror And they shall eat the meat in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Exodus 12:8 4 cups 1. What is the meaning of the four cups? Rabbi Yochanan taught in the name of Rabbi Benayah,: They symbolize the four expressions of redemption... Jerusalem Talmud Pesachim Therefore say to the people of Israel, I am the L-rd, and I will bring you out (Ve Hotzaysi) from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you (Ve Hitzalti) from their slavery, and I will redeem you (Ve Goalti) with a outstretched arm, and with great judgments; And I will take you (Ve Lokachti) to me for a people, and I will be to you a G-d; and you shall know that I am the L-rd your G-d, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you (Ve Hayvaysi) in to the land, concerning which I swore to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage; I am the L-rd. Exodus 6 :6-8 2

3 Karpas This first dipping [of the Karpas] is so that the child should notice and ask since it is not customary to eat a vegetable before the bread... Rashi Pesachim 114a Telling the story 1. And you shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. And it shall come to pass, when you come to the land which the L-rd will give you, according as he has promised, that you shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say to you, What do you mean by this service? That you shall say, It is the sacrifice of the L-rd s Passover, who passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and saved our houses. And the people bowed their heads and worshipped. Exodus 12: Why do we remove the table? The School of R. Jannai said: So that the children may perceive [the unusual proceeding] and enquire [its reasons]. Abaye was sitting before Rabbah, [when] he saw the tray taken up from before him. Said he to then: We have not yet eaten, and they have [already] come [and] removed the tray from before us! Said Rabbah to him: You have exempted us from reciting, Why [is this night] different? Talmud Pesachim 115b 3. But we distribute to the children parched ears of corn and nuts on the eve of Passover, so that they should not fall asleep, and ask [the questions ]. It was related of R. Akiba that he used to distribute parched ears and nuts to children on the eve of Passover, so that they might not fall asleep but ask [the questions ]. It was taught, R. Eliezer said: The mazzoth are eaten hastily on the night of Passover, on account of the children, so that they should not fall asleep. It was taught: it was related of R. Akiba [that] never did he say in the Beth Hamidrash, It is time to rise [cease study], except on the eve of Passover and the eve of the Day of Atonement. On the eve of Passover, because of the children, so that they might not fall asleep. Talmud Pesachim 109a 4. One should act differently on this evening so that the children will notice and ask, saying: Why is this night different from all other nights? - and he can reply by telling them such and such occurred Maimonides Laws of Chometz and Matza 7 5. Two scholars who know the laws of Pesach are still obligated to discuss the laws of Pesach on that night Talmud Pesachim 116a 3

4 Leaning In every generation a person is required to feel as if they themselves had been redeemed from Egypt...Therefore on this night when one eats and drinks it should be done while leaning in the manner of free people...this is required during consumption of the initial Kezayis of Matza and the four cups... Maimonides Laws of Chometz and Matza 7:6-8 Charoses 1. Why is it a religious requirement? R. Levi said: In memory of the apple-tree; R. Johanan said: In memory of the clay. Abaye observed: Therefore one must make it tart and thicken it: make it tart, in memory of the apple-tree; and thicken it, in memory of the clay. Talmud Pesachim 116a 2. One must not keep the bitter herbs [an appreciable time] in the haroseth, because the sweetness of its ingredients may neutralize its bitterness Talmud Pesachim 115b Cup of Elijah 1. The fifth cup should be poured and the great Hallel recited. This cup is not obligatory as the first four cups are. Maimonides - Laws of Chometz and Matzah 8:10 2. When Elijah comes, the doubt [whether there are four cups or five] will be resolved. Therefore, we pour a fifth cup, because of the doubt, but do not drink from it. Vilna Gaon 3. Behold I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the arrival of the great and awesome day of G-d. Malachi 3:23 Afikomen 1. One may not request the dessert (afikomen) after the Paschal lamb Mishna Pesachim 10:8 2. It was taught, R. Eliezer said: The matzas are taken hastily on the night of Passover, on account of the children, so that they should not fall asleep Talmud Pesachim 109a Kittel 4

5 Chometz Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you; no kind of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, only that may be done by you. And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt; therefore shall you observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger, or born in the land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall you eat unleavened bread. Exodus 12:15-20 Checking for Chometz On the evening of the fourteenth [of nisan] a search is made for leaven by the light of a lamp. Mishna Pesachim 1:1 Selling Chometz 1. If a Jew and a non-jew who are travelling on a boat as Pesach comes in, and the Jew owns chametz, he may sell it to the non-jew or give to him as a gift and buy it back after Pesach, provided that the sale or gift is a complete one. Tosefta to Pesachim 2:6 2. If he sold it or gave it to a non-jew outside his home before Pesach, even though he...knows that the non-jew won t touch it and will simply guard it for him until after Pesach and return it, it is permissible as long as it is a real transfer of ownership with no strings attached... Code of Jewish Law 448:3 Burning Chometz R. Meir said: One may eat [leaven] the whole of the five [hours] and must burn [it] at the beginning of the sixth. R. Judah said: one may eat the whole of the four [hours]. Keep it in suspense the whole of the fifth, and must burn it at the beginning of the sixth. R. Judah said further: two unfit loaves of the thanksoffering used to lie on the roof of the [temple] as long as they lay [there] all the people would eat [ leaven]; when one was removed, they would keep it in suspense, neither eating nor burning [it]; when both were removed, all the people commenced burning[their leaven]. Mishna Pesachim 11b 5

6 Chometz left over Pesach One is prohibited to have any benefit from the chometz of a Jew which was left over Pesach, regardless of whether it was left by accident, or involuntarily... Code of Jewish Law 448:3 Kitniyos It is the custom of Ashkenazic Jewry to be strict with regard to Legumes and beans... Code of Jewish Law 453:1 General Rituals and Customs Matza Erev Pesach One may not eat Matza which is suitable for the Mitzva during the entire day or Erev Pesach. Code of Jewish Law 471:2 Gebrokts One should keep the Matzos far from the flour since that flour can later be placed in a dish and create Chometz Code of Jewish Law 459:6 Shabbos Hagadol Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house; Exodus 12:3 Fast of the first-born It is the custom of the firstborn to fast on Erev Pesach Talmud Sofrim (Scribes) 21:3 THEMES The Unbroken Chain 1. And the L-rd said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him; And that you may tell in the ears of your son, and of your grandson, what things I have done in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am the L-rd. Exodus 10:1-2 6

7 2. Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day G-d created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any other people heard the voice of G-d speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? Has any G-d ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the L-rd your G-d did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the L-rd is G-d; besides him there is no other. Deuteronomy 4: Rabbi Eleazar ben Azaryah said: I am like a man of seventy years old, yet I did not succeed in proving that the exodus from Egypt must be mentioned at night-until Ben Zoma explained it: It is said, `That you may remember the day you left Egypt all the days of your life; now `the days of your life refers to the days, [and the additional word] `all indicates the inclusion of the nights! Haggadah Text & Mishna Berachos 12b 4. This is what it means when it says (in Ex. 19:9) and they shall also believe in you forever. For when we tell this to our children they will know that it is true without a doubt as if each generation had seen it themselves. For we do not testify falsehood to our children, and we would not bestow upon them worthless things which have no value. Then they too will not doubt our testimony. Rather they will believe with certainty that we saw with our own eyes everything that we tell them. Nachmanides Deuteronomy 4:9 5. You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shall you eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of affliction; for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste; that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. Deuteronomy 16:3 Birth of a nation 1. The Jews received redemption from Egypt in the merit of four things. They did not change their names, they did not change their language, they did not engage in Loshon Hara, and none of them were involved in illicit sexual activity. Midrash Song of Songs Rabbah 4:25 2. When Israel was in Egypt, they became defiled through all means of impurity until they sank to the 49th level of impurity. Zohar Chadash beginning of Parshat Yisro 7

8 3. Thus said the L-rd; I remember you, the devotion of your youth, your love like a bride, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Jeremiah 2:2 4. In the beginning, idol worshipers were our forefathers as it says: Thus said the L-rd G-d of Israel, Your fathers lived on the other side of the river in old time, Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor; and they served other G-ds. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau; and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. (Joshua 24:2-4) Haggadah text 5. And when I passed by you, and saw you weltering in your own blood, I said to you when you were in your blood, Live! Yes, I said to you when you were in your blood, Live! I have caused you to increase like a plant of the field, and you grew up and became tall, and you came to possess great ornaments; your breasts were formed, and your hair grew, yet you were naked and bare. And when I passed by you, and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness; yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the L-rd G-d, and you became mine. Ezekiel 18: And I shall pass through the land of Egypt: I and not an angel, I and not a Seraph, I G-d, personally, and no other. Haggadah text Redemption 1. When telling the Pesach story one should begin with degradation and finish with greatness Talmud Pesachim 116a 2. Rebbe Yehoshua said: Messiah will come during the month of Nissan Yalkut Shimoni, Bo, 210 The Merit of the Righteous Women 1. In the merit of righteous women, the Jews were redeemed from Egypt. Talmud, Sotah 11b 2. Any generation which is redeemed is redeemed in the merit of the righteous women. Midrash Zuta, Rus 4:8 8

9 Summary 1. Pesach celebrates the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt 2. We have a formal telling of the story of the Exodus on the first nights of Pesach which include props and actions which induce storytelling. This is called the Seder. 3. There is a Biblical commandment to tell the story of the Exodus on the first nights of Pesach. 4. The pupose of remembering the Exodus is a clear awareness of the participation of G-d in our world. 5. It is Biblically prohibited to consume or own Chometz during the entire holiday of Pesach. For Further Study 1. What makes something Chometz? 2. Why do some people only use hand-made matza for the Seder? 3. What is Shmura Matza? 4. In what way is egg Matza halachically different from plain Matza? 5. What does one do if they find Chometz in their home on Pesach? 6. Why is there a widespread custom not to eat roasted meat at the Seder? 7. What is the source of the custom to eat a hard boiled egg at the Seder? Recommended Reading 1. The Book of our Heritage: Eliyahu Kitov 2. Haggadah From Bondage To Freedom : The Passover Haggadah with a commentary illuminating the liberation of the spirit - Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski 3. Passover - Judaism in a Nutshell - Shimon Apisdorf 4. Passover Survival Kit - Shimon Apisdorf 9