Passover
Michael Hull
REL/134
May 14, 2013
Robert Schuler

Passover
Pesach also known as Passover is celebrated by more Jewish people than any other of their religious holidays. Originating from one of the ten plagues sent by god and brought by Mosses. The ritual last for several days and takes weeks to prepare for and has slightly different practices by different branches of Jewish religion.
Time of year Most places today use a Gregorian calendar adopted from the earlier Julian calendar ("Calendars through the Ages", 2008). The Jewish calendar is used mostly for Jewish holidays and is believed to be set down by the Sanhedrin president Hillel II. An ordinary (non-leap) year has 353, 354, or 355 days. A leap year has 383, 384, or 385 days. The three lengths of the years are termed, "deficient," "regular," and "complete," respectively. An ordinary year has 12 months, a leap year has 13 months. Every month starts (approximately) on the day of a new moon ("Calendars through the Ages", 2008). Pesach is the actual name given to the Jewish holy day, Passover being the English translation. Pesach is celebrated in the spring and starts on the 15 day in the month of Nisan. Pesach last for 8 days 7 in Israel ("Chabad.org", 1993-2013). This is a spring time event and is practiced by most Jewish people even those that are considered to be non-observant.
Historical Origin
Moses brought with him the 10 plagues to free his people. When present with the ultimatum to release the people or suffer the wrath of god the pharaoh did not believe and the country suffered due to the decision. The last of the ten plagues was to claim of the first born child of the Egyptians. God commanded those of faith to spread lambs blood on the door post and lintel of their homes. The meat was to be eaten that night with matzah and bitter herbs. “At the stroke of midnight of 15 Nissan in the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), G‑d visited the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians, killing all their firstborn” ("Chabad.org", 1993-2013). The pharaoh with fear and anger drove the Jewish people from his lands. They left in such a hurry that the bread being prepared for the trip to the Promised Land did not have an opportunity to rise. More than 600,000 men women and children left Egypt and started toward Mount Sinai with little more than unfinished bread to eat ("Chabad.org", 1993-2013).
Religious Practices associated with Passover
Removing all chametz is a priority, this could take weeks of preparation before the actual event. Chametz is anything made of the five major grains and cannot be cooked in 18minutes of contact with water ("Judaism 101", 1995-2011). This also includes any cooking utensils, everything must be thrown away or sold before the Seder. There is a final inspection the day before Seder and any chametz found is burned. Chametz can be sold then bought back after the last day of Passover, there is even a web site to assist with the sale. Disposing of chametz represents the haste taken by the Jewish people when leaving Egypt, it also a symbolic way of removing arrogance and pride. The day before Passover is the fast of the first born. The first born mail does not eat to celebrate the passing over of the Jewish first born during the 10th plague. The first night a special meal called seder is eaten to remind them of the significance of the holiday. The ritual of Seder is very specific. There are 15 steps that must be taken in order to successfully complete Seder. Not being able to speck Hebrew the simple rhyme does not appear simple at all but the translation reflects the order of the ritual. 1-Santifaction, blessing the wine then drinking the first glass and pouring the second. 2- Washing, washing the hands without blessing to eat the Karpas. 3- Eating the vegetable (karpas). 4-Breaking, breaking one of the matzahs returning part to the pile. 5- The Story, retailing of the story of exodus. 6-Washing, second washing this time with a blessing. 7- Blessing over grain products, the ha-motzi blessing. 8- Blessing over matzahs, then a piece is eaten. 9-Bitter herbs, blessing over bitter herb then eaten to symbolize the bitterness of slavery. 10- The Sandwich, the paschal offering in a sandwich, there is no animal sacrifice anymore so there is no sacrificial animal to eat the sandwich replaces that. 11- Dinner, no requirement other than the restriction of chametz. 12- The Afikomen, the piece of matzahs that was held back earlier in the ritual is hidden as the desert. 13- Grace after meals, a third cup of wine is poured and the after meal grace is said. 14- Praises, several psalms are resisted. 15- Closing, a simple wish confirming the end of Seder hoping that the next year celebration will be in Jerusalem. The first two and last two days of Passover there is no work and matzhs is eaten on the days that there is no fast or Seder. Most would consider this a time of sacrifice. However the Jewish people consider this a time of celebration and sing songs and have games as well as follow their traditions.
Different practices for the same holiday
Even Jewish people who do not practice all year round usually participate in Passover. Allot like Christians who worship on Christmas and not every Sunday. The practice between the different branches are similar with minor differences. The hiding of the desert during Seder actual differs from family to family. Some have the parents hide it to keep the children interested others the children hide it and the adults find it. . Orthodox Jews of Ashkenazic include rice, corn, peanuts, legumes (beans) and some other foods as if they were chametz ("Judaism 101", 1995-2011). Gebrochts is a further strictness not practiced or recognized by all Jewish people. These people will avoid any matzah product that has come into contact with liquid after being baked. The first night meal will carry on for two nights for traditional Jews outside Israel. With this holiday there were not as many changes between the Jewish branches.
Although the calendar does mark the holiday unless it is a Jewish calendar it is still the wrong month and year. The tradition of Passover starting with Mosses is intended as a celebration and a remembrance of where they came from. To the outsider it may appear like a sacrifice, however there is great ritual and family togetherness involved.

References
Calendar through the ages. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-jewish.html#anchor-look
Chabad.org. (1993-2013). Retrieved from http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What- Is-Passover.htm

Judaism 101. (1995-2011). Retrieved from http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm#Seder