At sundown last night, my family and I celebrated the beginning of Passover along with Jews all over the world. For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Passover, it is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt and celebrates freedom, memory, and moral responsibility.
Why is the holiday called Passover? Contrary to popular opinion, it is not because Uncle Murray has to pass over the matzo around the table. LOL. Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, originated in the biblical Book of Exodus. The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, and God commanded Moses to demand their release from Pharaoh. Pharaoh refused, and God sent ten plagues upon Egypt. During the final plague, the Angel of Death would strike the firstborn in Egypt, but the Israelites marked their doorposts with lamb’s blood, so the destructive force would “pass over” their homes, sparing them from harm-hence the name Passover.
Happy Passover