“In each and every generation a person is obliged to regard him/herself
as if he/she had come out of Egypt.”
—Haggadah
Each year, the holiday of Passover returns during the springtime, recounting the story of the Israelites liberated from Egyptian slavery. Jews tell this story, with the assistance of a Haggadah, to remind us that in every generation, throughout time, all Jews regardless of status, age, or gender are to feel as if we personally made this journey as our ancestors had. We are obligated to retell this story because our freedom is not to be taken for granted — it is a sacred redemption. The “Exodus” is a powerful spiritual liberation, not just a physical one. The quote above talks about how each and every generation has this responsibility. The generations are not only time-bound, for every human within them carries this obligation. This narrative celebrates resilience, renewal, and freedom.
Passover falls on the eve of the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nisan, lasting for seven or eight days depending on if you are an Israeli or a Reform Jew or if you are an Orthodox or Conservative Jew living in the diaspora. It is one of only a few holidays celebrated privately in homes, centered around a meal, making it one of the most celebrated holidays by Jews next to Chanukah and the High Holy Days.
The traditional meal called a Seder (meaning “order”), is outlined in a book called the Haggadah, which is read aloud at the dinner table. Haggadah means “the telling” of the story — the exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah also lists the order the story is told as well as the ritual foods that are blessed first and then eaten.
The number 4 comes up many times throughout the Haggadah. There are four sons described, four questions asked and answered, four cups of wine blessed, and four terms used by God in Exodus to describe the redemption. However, there are six symbolic foods on the Passover Seder plate: maror (the bitter herbs), charoset (chopped apples, nuts, cinnamon, and sweet red wine), karpas (parsley), chazeret (lettuce), zeroah (shank bone), and beitzah egg. They all have a unique symbolism to remind us of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt, the Passover sacrifice of a lamb in ancient Jerusalem, and the renewal of life in the spring.
The most commonly recognized food for Passover is the unleavened bread, or matzah, which reminds us of how our ancestors fled quickly from Egypt when freed, not having enough time to fully allow their bread to rise. “They baked the dough that they took out of Egypt into unleavened cakes [matzot], for it was not leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay; nor had they prepared provisions for themselves” (Exodus 12:39). It became known as the bread of affliction as there were few ingredients given to the Hebrews at the time, but it also became the symbol of freedom. At the seder, the middle matzah is broken in half by the leader and then hidden for children to find after the main meal. It must be returned to the leader, for a small reward, for the seder to finish with this as the dessert.
I wish all who are celebrating this holiday to have a meaningful seder experience with family and friends while fulfilling our sacred obligation to retell the story as we appreciate the freedoms we have today. “Chag Pesach kasher vesame’ach.” Have a happy and blessed Passover!
Rabbi Melissa Stollman is a major gifts officer for the Union for Reform Judaism.