Ceremony and Celebration Family Edition, The Hagim, Pesah, Pesah, Matza, Maror, Further Thoughts
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In the Torah, the festival we call Pesaḥ is consistently described as Ḥag HaMatzot, the festival of unleavened bread (Ḥag HaPesaḥ, in the Torah, is confined to the fourteenth of Nisan, the day prior to the Seder, when the Paschal sacrifice was brought). Rabbi Levi Yitzḥak of Berditchev gave a beautiful explanation for this dual terminology. The name Pesaḥ signifies the greatness of God, who “passed over” the houses of the Israelites. The name Ḥag HaMatzot suggests the greatness of the Israelites, who followed God into the desert without any provisions. In the Torah, God calls the festival Ḥag HaMatzot in praise of Israel. The Jewish people, though, call the festival Pesaḥ in praise of God.
☛ REFLECT Was the story of Exodus a triumph for God or for the Israelites?
QUESTIONS TO ASK AT YOUR SEDER
- What is special about the educational methods used at the Seder table?
- Do any other Ḥagimhave a similar aspect to them?
- Do you think our educational institutions can learn anything from the educational methods of Seder night?