Passover: Jewish Religion

Introduction:

Pesach often acknowledged as Passover is one of the Jewish religion’s highly significant festival. It carries on between seven or eight days in the Hebrew month of Nissan from the 15th day until the 22nd. The holy festival is a celebration of the emancipation of Israeli slaves from Egypt approximately 210 years ago. The holiday is a sacred festival celebrated by all members of the faith involved within Jewish communities worldwide and is a celebration of the time of spring, of birth and rebirth, liberation from slavery, of taking responsibility for oneself, the community, and the world. Jewish individuals and families rejoice the festival with numerous significant rituals such as Seders which is a traditional meal devoured during

Origins of Passover are mentioned and can be cited in several books such as the Book of Exodus, but have developed since ancient times. Passover is a well-established Jewish holiday, known for its profound connection to Jewish redemption and Moses as for its links with Christianity. The onset of Passover instigated through its primary observances in relation to the freedom bestowed upon the children of Israel from Egypt after generations of slavery. God promised Israelites freedom from slavery and sent Moses to guide them out of Egypt. However pharaoh had refused God’s will which lead on to ten plagues visiting Egypt and only harming Egyptians, demonstrating the divinity and power of God. The ten plagues were: the Plague of Blood (God turned all the water in Egypt into blood), the Plague of Frogs (Egypt was overrun with frogs ), the Plague of Lice (Dust was turned into lice), the Plague of Flies, the Plague on Livestock (all animals belonging to the Egyptians died), the Plague of Boils (festering boils broke out on the Egyptian people and their livestock), the Plague of Hail, the Plague of Locusts, the Plague of Darkness (Egypt became totally dark for three days) and the final plague; death of the first born. God instructed Moses that if the Israelites wished to remain unharmed from the final plague, a lamb must be sacrificed and its blood must be utilised to mark their doorframes. This allowed God to “pass over” their homes and spare them from the dreadful plague and it is also how the festival received its name. On the whole, the splendid festival known as Passover possesses a profound, rich and fascinating history which commemorates the biblical story of Exodus, when Hebrew slaves were released from bondage in