What is Pesach?

Pesach, also known as Passover, is a Jewish festival that celebrates the freedom from slavery for the Israelites who were previously enslaved by the Egyptians.

What is the purpose of Pesach?

The purpose of Pesach is to commemorate and celebrate the Great Exodus to freedom from slavery 3,400 years ago, sometimes even called the "master-story" of the Jewish People, transforming the value of the Jewish people and their contribution to the Church today.

How "Pesach" is portrayed in the Bible

The reason it's called "Passover" is because it means that God passed over the Israelites once they smeared blood on the door posts of the Egyptian houses to kill the first born in each Egyptian family. This was the last of the Ten Plagues, which occurred because Pharaoh refused to free the Israelites from slavery. God "passing over" was the reason the Israelites were freed, therefore, the holiday is called "Passover".

Symbols

There are six symbols that represent the Passover, many which are food symbols, represented by the Seder Plate.

The process of Pesach

The Seder is held during nightfall on the first night of Passover.

The shank bone represents the lamb that was sacrificed for the blood that was smeared on the door posts to protect the Jews. Of course, it cannot be eaten. The bone also represents the "outstretched arm of God".

The bitter herbs represent the bitterness of Pharaoh's heart during a bond with the Egyptians. It is mixed with the charoset, and is sometimes wrapped into a sandwich.

The charoset is made out of diced apples, walnuts, and wine. It represents the brick and mortar made by the Jews while they were slaves under Pharaoh.