Pesach/Passover (Moses, HaShem, exodus, tradition, attend)

[jewscout]

http://www.layman.org/layman/_images...es&friends.jpg

well we're almost a week away from Pesach/Passover and I thought i'd post some info on this important Jewish holiday...

Of all the Jewish holidays, Pesach is the one most commonly observed, even by otherwise non-observant Jews. According to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), more than 80% of Jews have attended a Pesach seder.


Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Pesach observances are instituted in Chs. 12-15.

The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottich "loch") comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet , meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In English, the holiday is known as Passover. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on this holiday. The holiday is also referred to as Chag he-Aviv , (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzoth , (the Festival of Matzahs), and Z'man Cherutenu , (the Time of Our Freedom) (again, all with those Scottish "ch"s). Probably the most significant observance related to Pesach involves the removal of chametz (leaven; sounds like "hum it's" with that Scottish ch) from our homes. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls.

http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by jewscout

The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottich "loch") comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet , meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.

See Shemot (Exodus) 12:11 ... it is HaShem'S passover

[michel]

Jewscout, I looked at your link. This holiday seems very onerous. I guess you must be devout.

[jewscout]

i figured you'd have something to say after i posted this Deut

but even the Etz Hayim defines the word close to the definition given by jewfaq

Three traditions about the meaning of the stem have survived: "to have compassion," "to protect," and "to skip over" (see 12:13).

admittedly jewfaq takes a more traditional view...

[jewscout]

Originally Posted by michel

Jewscout, I looked at your link. This holiday seems very onerous. I guess you must be devout.

i try to be although i live to far from my schul to be Shomar Shabbat

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by jewscout

i figured you'd have something to say after i posted this Deut

Actually, if you check that time of my cited post, you'll find that I had something to say about 50 minutes before you posted.

[jewscout]

Originally Posted by Deut. 32.8

Actually, if you check that time of my cited post, you'll find that I had something to say about 50 minutes before you posted.

lol yeah true

[jewscout]

some more passover info!

http://www.aish.com/holidays/passover/default.asp

[jewscout]

Prince of Egypt! a personal fav!