B"H

Thursday, Nissan 3, 5784 / April 11, 2024

 

When we perform the Pesach seder it is very important to discuss the story, the laws, the customs, and the reasons behind them. Here is more on the Holiday of Pesach (Passover).

 

The holiday of Pesach has a few names.  The two common names for this holiday are: Chag HaPesach (the holiday of Pesach) and Chag HaMatzot (holiday of Matzot). 

 

Reason: “Pesach” means to “skip over.” This name came about because when G-d brought the plague of the First-born on the Egyptians and the eldest of every household was killed, He skipped over the Jewish homes, and they were spared. For this miracle we call the holiday, Pasach.

 

The name “Holiday of Matzot” is because of the fact that when G-d told the Jewish people that He will take them out of Egypt into the wilderness, they had such great faith in G-d that they didn’t even prepare food. They took the dough they had, placed it on their shoulders and left Egypt. The sun baked the dough into matzah (Thank G-d, there was no eclipse then…). Thus, Chag HaMatzot is an expression of their faith in G-d that He will provide all their needs.

 

We find something very interesting. In the Torah the holiday is called, “Chag HaMatzot.  However, we commonlycall this holiday, “Pesach.”

 

Q.   Why does the Torah call the holiday, The Holiday of Matzot and we, The Holiday of Pesach?

 

A.   As mentioned before, the name “Pesach” tells of G-d’s compassion for the Jewish people that He skipped over the Jewish homes and spared them from the plague of the First-born.  The name “Matzot” is about the virtue of the Jewish people that they had such great trust in G-d.

 

G-d calls the holiday “Chag HaMatzot” to stress the wonderful quality of the Jewish people that they had great faith in G-d.  However, we call the holiday “Pesach” to glorify G-d for His passing over our homes and sparing the Jewish people from the plague.

 

Q.    One of the items on the Seder Plate is “charoses.”  Before eating the bitter herbs (maror), we dip it in the charoses.  The bitter herbs symbolize the hard labor and bitterness Jews suffered in Egypt.  What is the symbolic meaning of the charoses? Also, what is the meaning of the name charoses?

 

A.    Charoses is a combination of fruits, nuts and wine mixed together and looks like mortar or clay.  This symbolizes the hard labor, which Jews endured in Egypt when they were forced to make the bricks to build the cities of Pisom and Ramses.  “Charoses” comes from the word, “cheres” which means “clay.”  The maror dipped in the charoses reminds us of the bitterness in Egypt which was a result of their being forced to produce the bricks, mortar, and clay.

      

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH

 

UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.