In this lesson we will learn:

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1 Pesach - Passover Key Concepts Symbol. Communicating experience. In this lesson we will learn: the meaning of the religious symbols used at the Jewish festival of Pesach. Introduction: Freedom As a teenager, what kind of things are you allowed to do now? TASK: TO EXPLORE WHAT FREEDOM MEANS IN OUR OWN EXPERIENCE. When you were five years old, what were you allowed to do? When you were ten years old, what were you allowed to do that you couldn t do at five? Talk and Write What can your parents do that you wish you were allowed to do? List three choices that you freely made today. Think of a word or words that best describe(s) what freedom means to you. Freedom is. What symbol would you use to show what freedom is all about? 74

2 Pesach - Passover Jews have an annual festival to celebrate their freedom. Pesach (Passover) is a week long festival that takes place in Spring. It is a time when Jews remember how they were freed from slavery in Egypt. The Exodus, as it is known, is an important event in Jewish history. Jews believe God freed them from slavery and brought them out of Egypt. Once a year Jews remember this event and give thanks to God for their escape. They do this by having a festival to celebrate their freedom. Before the festival begins, Jewish families spring clean their homes from top to bottom. In the kitchen, every piece of leavened bread is removed. This is bread or biscuits made using yeast or baking powder. It is all taken away, not a crumb remains. (On the night before Pesach, Jewish families sometimes play a game. Parents and children search their home for crumbs that may have been hidden or overlooked.) This task reminds the Jews of the very first Pesach. Then the people were in such a hurry to leave Egypt that there was no time to let bread rise in the oven. As a result the people had to eat flat bread (unleavened bread). Since then Pesach is often referred to as the festival of unleavened bread. Symbols The Seder table is set with food and drink. Every item has a symbolic meaning. In other words everything on the table stands for something in the Exodus event. The Seder table is set with: A Seder plate. Unleavened bread (matzot) covered with a cloth. A jug of salt water. One large wine glass. Wine glasses for all present. Two candles. The Seder Meal. The Seder The high point of the festival is the Seder (Passover meal). The Seder is a special meal combined with a religious service. It takes place in the family home on the eve of Pesach. It is a big celebration and relatives and friends are usually invited. The Seder meal in every Jewish household follows the same order of events. This order is written down in a prayer book called the Haggadah. A copy of the Haggadah is put in everyone s place at the table before the meal begins. The father of the family begins the service. He lights the candles, fills the glasses with wine, and says a blessing. A large cup of wine, for the prophet Elijah, is left on the table during the meal and is poured away afterwards. The youngest child in the family always asks the same question: Why is this night different from all other nights?. The father replies by telling the story of the Exodus. He teaches the meaning of the Exodus by pointing to the different symbols on the table. 75

3 The Seder Plate The Seder plate is divided into sections. Each section contains a piece of food. The different items of food remind Jewish people of: Their slavery in Egypt. Their freedom when they left Egypt. The symbol. Lamb bone: Bitter herbs: Haroset: Green herbs: 76 Egg: The experience. The Seder Plate. A reminder of the lamb that was killed so its blood could be sprinkled on the door posts of Jewish houses. The Angel of Death passed over their houses and they were saved. A reminder of the years of bitter slavery in Egypt. A mix of apples, nuts, honey and spices. A muddy looking mixture that stands for the mud bricks used to make the pharaohs buildings in Egypt. Parsley or lettuce to remind everyone that Pesach is a spring festival. A symbol of new life in a new land. There are three other important items placed on the table. Matzot: Salt water: Wine: Matzot (unleavened bread) is a reminder that the Jews left Egypt in such a hurry that there was no time for the bread to rise. Salt water is a reminder of the tears that were shed when the Jews were slaves in Egypt. A glass of wine for each person is a reminder of the promise God made to Moses (Exodus 6:6-8). Communicating experience Pesach is a time when Jews remember the Exodus and their escape from slavery to freedom. For Jews this is not just a mere remembering of something that happened a long time ago. At the Seder the past is brought right into the present. Jewish people reenact the Exodus as if it is taking place today. In other words the Jews re-live the Exodus as if it is happening here and now. At the meal they say: We have come out of Egypt. as if they are really there. All the symbols on the Seder table help people to re-live the experience of the Exodus. The symbols, words and actions of the Seder help to communicate the Exodus experience. It brings it alive for everyone. The Seder lasts for several hours. Everyone listens to the story of the Exodus. They say the prayers and sing the hymns together. Wine is sipped. It tastes of the freedom promised by God. Ceremonial cup of wine. Parsley is dipped in salt water. It tastes of sorrow that people still suffer from slavery and oppression. Matzot is eaten. It tastes of impatience that they must eat quick bread like this in their rush for freedom. Bitter herbs are dipped in the haroset. It tastes of the bitter misery of working like slaves in Egypt. A drop of wine is spilled from the wineglasses. It shows sadness for all those who still suffer in the world today.

4 At this point in the Seder the main meal is served. Everyone enjoys the festive food that has been specially prepared for the occasion. There is a starter, a main course, and a dessert. At the Seder, Jewish people gather together to celebrate their freedom. Yet during the service they think of those who still suffer from lack of freedom in many parts of the world. The service ends with a blessing and the words: Next year in Jerusalem, Next year may we all be free. Crossword 1. Jewish festival of freedom. 2. The Jews escape from slavery in Egypt. 3. Highpoint of the festival of Pesach. 4. Unleavened bread. 5. Symbol of a spring festival. 6. Symbol of slave labour on buildings in Egypt. Knowledge Section Key Words (Passover) is a Jewish festival that takes place every year in. During Pesach Jews celebrate their from slavery in Egypt. The is the highpoint of the festival. It is a service and a meal that takes place in the family. The of the family leads the service. He reads the order of the service from a prayer book called the. He tells the story of the by pointing to the different items of food on the seder table. Everything on the table has a special meaning. Each thing is a of the Jewish experience of escaping from to freedom. Words to help you: Haggadah, Home, Freedom, Father, Spring, Seder, Symbol, Pesach, Exodus, Slavery The city of Jerusalem. 77

5 The Seder Plate Select any three items of food from the Seder plate. Can you explain what these three foods stand for in the story of the Exodus? Questions 1. When does Pesach take place each year? 2. What do Jews celebrate at the festival of Pesach? 3. What is the difference between leavened and unleavened bread? 4. What is the Exodus? 5. What is the Seder? 6. What is the Haggadah? 7. What is matzot? 8. Name three symbolic foods on the Seder plate at Pesach. Activity - Seder Plates You will need: paper plates, pens, rulers and coloured pencils or markers. Distribute the paper plates among everyone in the class. To design a Seder plate: - Divide the plate into segments. - Draw a picture and label the item of food in each segment of the Seder plate. Sign and display your work. Understanding Section Creative Writing Imagine you are a small Jewish child living in Egypt in Moses time. What age are you..? All day there has been great excitement in the house. What s been happening..? Your parents have packed all the bags. You copy them. What have you packed in your own little bag..? Lovely smells are coming from the kitchen - what s cooking..? It s now long past your bedtime and everyone s having a party. But it s all a bit of a rush. What is going on..? It s dark outside. Your mother takes your hand. The family set off together into the night..? Where are you going..? Questions 1. What symbols are used at a Seder service to re-tell the story of the Exodus? 2. How do the symbols at the Seder service communicate the experience of the Exodus? How do they help the Jews to re-live the event all over again? 3. Why do you think Pesach is called a festival of freedom? Research Find out about Jewish action for freedom at Masada in 73CE. Masada is the Hebrew word for fortress. What was the function of this fortress in Roman times? Where is Masada? Who were the Zealots? What happened to the Jewish Zealots at Masada? Why are the ancient ruins at Masada regarded as a national shrine in Israel today? Discuss your findings with the class. 78