Pesach - Passover

Pesach, Passover, the first of the three Jewish Pilgrim’s festivals, is always celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. This day marks the beginning of the Biblical New Year. The date also determined the length of a king’s reign. Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt when God delivered the Israelites from bondage.

Today, observant Jews spend the weeks before Passover in a flurry of thorough housecleaning to remove all morsels of chametz* from every part of the home. This ‘spring-cleaning’ ritual has been copied by many non-Jews as well.

Chametz (leavening) is made from one of five types of grains which combined with water are left to stand for more than eighteen minutes. During Passover, it is forbidden to eat, keep or own olive-sized or larger quantities of chametz.

Some people create a special chametz cupboard where they store their items until after the holiday. Supermarket shelves containing products that are not kosher lePesach (kosher for Passover) are covered with plastic sheets.

Most observant families have special sets of serving dishes, glassware and silverware (and in some cases, even separate dishwashers and sinks) which have never come into contact with chametz. These are only used during Passover. Certain utensils, like flatware and metal pots and pans can be made ‘kosher for Passover’ use through a process known as “kashering.” In religious neighborhoods the kashering service is offered for a small amount of money.

The search for remaining leaven takes place on the evening before Passover. After a special blessing, one or more members of the household go from room to room to check that no crumbs remain in any corner.

On the morning of the 14th of Nisan, all leavened products that were still in the house are burned. In order to ensure a safe burning of the chametz, municipalities place special incinerators on the street corners.

Pesach is also called Chag haMatsot, referring to the flat, unleavened “bread”. The Israelites had to leave in such a hurry that there was no time for the bread to rise. God told the Israelites to eat unleavened bread for seven days.

During the 40 years in the desert there was only manna. Upon entering the Promised Land, the Jewish people were able to bake matzot from the local wheat and barley in order to celebrate a true Pesach.

The Prophet Samuel revived the national religious festival and under King Solomon the Feast took new splendor with the building of the First Temple. After his death, idolatry and paganism caused the Pesach celebrations to decline. Godly kings like Hezekiah and Josiah reinstated the Festival. After the destruction of the First Temple the Korban Pesach could no longer be sacrificed and was replaced by prayers, eating matza and bitter herbs. When the Second Temple was built, the Korban Pesach again was reinstated, until the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.

Worldwide, more than 80% of the Jewish people attend a Seder on the eve of the holiday. Seder means order and refers to the commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt by eating special types of food, reading the Biblical story and singing specific songs. Some of today’s practices were already followed before the destruction of the second Temple in the homes of Jews who couldn’t go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Pesach Haggadah contains the text and order of the Seder meal, which can take many hours to complete.

Early on the Monday and Thursday morning of the intermediary days, the priestly blessing takes place at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City. Cohanim (whose names indicate they are of the priestly line of Aaron) give the Aharonic blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, while covered with their talllits (prayer shawls). The priestly blessing or priestly benediction, birkat cohanim, is also known as nesiat kapayim (raising of the hands), or dukhanen (from the Yiddish word dukhan - platform - because the blessing used to be given from a raised rostrum).

In Israel, the Pesach holiday is observed for seven days; in the Diaspora, for eight days. The first and last days are major holidays, on which working is prohibited (like a Shabbat). During Chol Hamo'ed (intermediate days), people are allowed to work.

The Samaritans living on Mount Gerazim, near Shechem (Nablus) and the Ethiopian Falashas are the only group of people still performing Paschal sacrifices during Pesach.

Pesach is a real family holiday that everyone enjoys. During this time, many cars begin to display a national flag.

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Excerpt from the book: Remember, Observe, Rejoice © Petra van der Zande.

Link to the book     

SHEMINI ATZERET - SIMCHAT TORAH - REJOICING OF THE LAW

“I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.”  

Psalm 119:162 (NKJV)

Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) is celebrated on the eighth day of Sukkot (Oct. 5,2015). In the Diaspora it is celebrated a day later. Simchat Torah marks the conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one.

During Temple times, 70 sacrifices were offered during the seven days of Sukkot - more than on any other holiday. Some believe it was to be an act of gratefulness for a successful harvest that was coupled with a prayer for abundance in the upcoming year. Talmudic scholars believe that the 70 sacrifices were to bring merit to the proverbial 70 nations of the world. Today, congregants pray for the gentile nations.

Rabbis have tried to answer why God commanded an eighth day, even though He stipulated that Sukkot was only seven days. According to them, God asked His people to remain with Him for one more day. The practice of the annual reading cycle was established between the sixth and eleventh century AD, and therefore is not mentioned in the Talmud. In the Middle Ages, some communities lit bonfires, using the dismantled and disposable parts of the sukkah.

On the evening of Simchat Torah, (Sunday evening) all the Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark and carried around the bimah (reader’s platform). This is the only night of the year that this is done. During the seven-fold procession (hakkafot) a special chant is sung. Each procession is separated by an interlude of singing and dancing in which the people carrying the Torah scrolls are joined by others. 

The children carry Simchat Torah flags or miniature scrolls.

Some congregations read Deuteronomy 33:1-17; it is the only time the reading of the Law takes place in the evenings. During the morning service, another seven-fold procession takes place, followed by reading Deuteronomy 33 and 34. It is customary for all males to be called to the Reading of the Law. Some synagogues allow both men and women to come to the bimah.

During the Kol Hane’arim (Calling up the children) ceremony, the children stand together under a large woollen prayer shawl, while Jacob’s blessing is recited:

“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day... may he bless these boys [and girls]. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth." Genesis 48: 15-16 (NIV)

The last section of the Pentateuch is reserved for the Chatan Torah (Bridegroom of the Law). After the honoured congregant finishes the reading, the congregation says in a loud voice, “Hazak, hazak, ve’nithazek! (Be strong, be strong and let us be strengthened!)”

Now a second scroll (Genesis) is taken and the new reading cycle begins.

The person honoured to read Genesis 1-2:3 is called the Chatan Bereshit  (Bridegroom of the beginning). A third person, the Maftir is called to read the prophetic reading from Joshua chapter 1. In the past, the two “grooms” had to provide a lavish feast for the whole congregation, but nowadays only wine and light food is served.

In Israel it is customary to hold another, outdoor, hakkafot on the night after Simchat Torah. In the synagogues, the Torah is read on Shabbat, most holidays and on the Monday and Thursday mornings. This custom goes back to ancient times when most Jews were farmers or shepherds. On these days they brought their fare to the market. After having sold their produce, the men gathered to read the Torah.

This article is taken from the book "Remember Observe, Rejoice, a Guide to the Jewish Feasts, holidays, Memorial Days and Events." © Petra van der Zande. 

ISBN 978-965-7542-61-3

SUKKOT - THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

The week long holiday of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) usually falls the end of September, beginning of October. During this “season of our rejoicing”, the Jewish people eat their meals in a tabernacle or booth, covered with boughs but with the sky showing through in remembrance of the wanderings from Egypt to the Promised Land. Sukkot is one of the three Pilgrim festivals ordained by God. People had to go up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast in the Temple.

"Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread… at the time appointed in the month of Abib… and the Feast of Harvest, the first fruits of your labours which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year. Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.” Exodus 23:16 (NKJV)

Being an observant Jew, Jesus too celebrated

 Sukkot.

“Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand… Then the Jews sought him (Jesus) at the feast, and said, Where is he? … Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught… On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 

John 7: 2,11,14,37-38 (NIV)

The three pilgrim feasts - 

Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Tabernacles) have both historical and agricultural significance. Because Sukkot occurred in the fall harvest, it was also observed as an agricultural event. Prayers for rain were also recited during this holiday.  In Israel, the first and last days are celebrated as a full holidays (like a Shabbat); The “Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly” is celebrated as Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law). People are allowed to work during Chol Hamo'ed (intermediate days), but the festival framework is maintained. Schools are closed, and many families enjoy the holiday together by going on outings, visiting family or entertaining guests in their Sukkah.

Sukkot’s observance involves “dwelling” in the sukkah. The concept of thanksgiving for the harvest remains central, symbolized by the fruits (real or artificial) that decorate the sukkot (one sukkah, two sukkot). 

Some say the American Pilgrim fathers were influenced by the Jewish observance of Sukkot, from which Thanksgiving Day came.

An important symbolic item of the Festival is the Arba’ah Minim (Four Species). These are held together and waved at different points in the religious services. The four species consist of a lulav (palm branch), etrog (citron), hadasim ( three myrtle twigs) and the aravot (two willow branches). Combined, these are called the Lulav.

According to the Bible, in the millennial Kingdom gentile nations will have to come up to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot in order to be blessed with rain. Even though it is not commandment now, many Christians celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 

"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain." Zechariah 14:16-19 (NKJV)

Awesome, isn't it?

If you'd like to learn more about the Jewish Feasts and special days as they are celebrated in Israel, this book is a great reference guide:

                                                         

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Shavuot - the Feast of Weeks

In Israel, Shavuot is celebrated only for one day - on the 6^th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (This year on May 20.) In the Diaspora, Jews celebrate it for two days. The Christian holiday of Pentecost always falls on the 7^th Sunday after Easter which in 2018, is on the same Sunday as Shavuot.

The Hebrew word for Shavuot means “weeks” and refers to the counting of seven weeks from the second day of the Pesach (Passover) holiday. This period is called the “Counting of the Omer”. Shavuot is the only Pilgrim festival of which the Bible doesn’t give a specific date on which to celebrate.

The Festival has different names:

 à Chag Shavuot (Festival of Weeks)

à Chag ha Katsir (Reaping holiday)

à Yom ha Bikkurim (day of first fruits)

à Pentecost (Greek for 50)

According to a certain stream in Judaism: Torah must be reshit (first). This is linked to a set of customs, whose first letters form the word “acharit” (last).

1. Akdamot - a liturgical poem, read in synagogue.

2. Chalav - milk. The Rabbis reasoned that because the Israelites didn’t have time to prepare meat for Shavuot, they only consumed dairy products. It’s a popular custom to eat cheese cake and blintzes (pancakes filled with cheese) during Shavuot.

3. Ruth - the scroll of Ruth is read in synagogues. She became a member of the Jewish people by accepting the Torah. Converts to Judaism are honoured at this time. Tradition tells us that King David (form the line of Boaz and Ruth) was born and died on Shavuot. Many people visit his grave on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

4. Yerek - greenery. Homes and synagogues are decorated with greenery. The bimah* (platform) where the Torah readings take place now looks like a chuppah* (wedding canopy). Moses, the matchmaker, brought the Jewish people (bride) to the chuppah (Mount Sinai) to marry the bridegroom (God). The Torah was the ketubah* (wedding contract).

5. Torah study (all night). Hourly subjects are taught by different teachers and ‘the night passes like a dream’.

Exceprt from the book "Remember, Observe, Rejoice - a guide to the Jewish Feasts, holidays, memorial days and events" by Petra van der Zande.