Pesach

Pesach is one of the three festivals we call 'shalosh regalim'. These festivals are also known as 'pilgrimage' festivals. In the time of the Beit ha-Mikdash, the Jews of the Holy Land had to go to Jerusalem to celebrate 'Pesach', 'Shavuot' and 'Sukkot'. The journey they made was a pilgrimage, in today's word a 'hajj'. These days of pilgrimage or 'hajj' were called 'HAG' in Hebrew, which can be translated as 'festival'. We have other words too for festival, such as 'Moed' or 'Yom Tov'. That is why we greet each other saying 'Hag Sameah' or 'Moadim le Simha', which means 'May the festival(s) be joyful'. Note that these festivals are celebrated for 1 day in Israel and 2 days outside Israel, in the Galut. In one of the mosaics of the Kariye Museum, which is now a mosque and closed, we see this journey of Joseph, Mary and Jesus on the road to fulfil this mitzvah and celebrate Pesach in Jerusalem.

According to what is written, on the night of the departure from Egypt everyone had to eat in haste, with their shoes on their feet — although at home they always went barefoot — so as to be able to leave the house with the staff in hand that would serve for defence and support. All this because at any moment they might receive the order to leave and begin the road of the exodus.

The night of Pesach we call the 'Seder', a word that means 'to arrange, organize, order'. We must observe, arrange and organize this meal with certain rituals. We must feel the bitterness with the maror and the joy with the wine. We must teach the children who ask us the reason for all these rituals. This night is one of the nights when the whole family gathers and all loved ones are invited.

Pesach today is no longer the departure from Egypt and the road to salvation from slavery. Today it is the hope of spiritual freedom and universal peace.

Hag Sameah, and a joyful Moed.