The Jewish Passover Celebrates Freedom
The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach, a combination of peh and sach. The two words mean, 'the mouth speaks'. Passover is all about communication. It all started with that communication from God to Moses or Moshe about the redemption of the Hebrews from their slavery under the Pharoah. This Holy communication guided the oppressed to freedom. For this act of redemption the Jews are so reverential to Him that they never write the word 'God' in full. Instead. they write G-d. afraid that the paper on which it is written may get trampled upon, however inadvertently. For God's name, YaHWeH, or JeHo VaН they use the tetragrammaton, YHWH, or JHVH. With the vowels absent, they cannot and do not pronounce His name. During Passover the Jews follow the commandment "And thou shalt tell thy sons “to inform later generations about the departure of their ancestors from Egypt. The concept of nationhood is re newed annually in this manner by letting the "mouth speak" during the have ceremonial dinner called Seder, in what can be described as a strongly symbolic ritual. In reading the Haggadah, or stories of Exodus, they recall their history with awe for Him. The tradition is that the youngest child at the table answers the four questions that encapsulate the Seder. The questions are not for testing since the answers are known already. They are asked in a tone of bewilderment about that one night, 3,000 years ago. By answering them, even the youngest joins the nationhood of Jews. The questions focus on slavery versus freedom. Through this question-answer process children learn to appreciate the boon of freedom. Speech, unique to humans, gives us freedom of choice and power. The Jews are taught: "Say little and do much" (Avos 1:15). Rav Meir had clarified: ""A man's words should always be few in addressing G-d." The contradiction between speaking "little" and to "tell" much about the journey from slavery to freedom is superficial. Few words are adequate to make a plea to or address Him because He judges, not through words, but by deeds. The ritual of singing His praise for redeeming them overnightfrom slavery to freedom. Speaking "little" is equally applicable when it comes to talking about oneself. Here runs a deep parallel to the Aham or "I" that those of the Hindu faith are exhorted to overcome so as not to become egocentric. During Passover it is forbidden to possess any Chametz. the Hebrew word for leavened food. Matzo, the unleavened bread, is eaten as a meal. Without adding yeast or giving sufficient time to ferment the dough made from flour, it is not allowed to swell up. All this symbolises the need for keep ing control over one's self. Leav ened food and leavening agents come to represent arrogance and malice. God's commandment conveyed the message that the people should not be arrogant with the Pharoah's men, and in the hour of redemption, they should take care not to fall out among themselves by becoming egocentric. The commandment exhorts them to stay together and help one another. They had heeded, as the legend goes, and had successfully crossed the Red Sea to become a cohesive nation for the first time in their history. Ever since, in commemoration, the Jews avoid leavened bread for a week starting with the night of Passover. Spirituality, in essence, is all about connecting the reality to the Omnipotent, the eternal spirit.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Tapan Chatterjee personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Tapan Chatterjee and Speaking Tree,Times of India
The Jewish Passover Celebrates Freedom
The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach, a combination of peh and sach. The two words mean, 'the mouth speaks'. Passover is all about communication. It all started with that communication from God to Moses or Moshe about the redemption of the Hebrews from their slavery under the Pharoah. This Holy communication guided the oppressed to freedom. For this act of redemption the Jews are so reverential to Him that they never write the word 'God' in full. Instead. they write G-d. afraid that the paper on which it is written may get trampled upon, however inadvertently. For God's name, YaHWeH, or JeHo VaН they use the tetragrammaton, YHWH, or JHVH. With the vowels absent, they cannot and do not pronounce His name. During Passover the Jews follow the commandment "And thou shalt tell thy sons “to inform later generations about the departure of their ancestors from Egypt. The concept of nationhood is re newed annually in this manner by letting the "mouth speak" during the have ceremonial dinner called Seder, in what can be described as a strongly symbolic ritual. In reading the Haggadah, or stories of Exodus, they recall their history with awe for Him. The tradition is that the youngest child at the table answers the four questions that encapsulate the Seder. The questions are not for testing since the answers are known already. They are asked in a tone of bewilderment about that one night, 3,000 years ago. By answering them, even the youngest joins the nationhood of Jews. The questions focus on slavery versus freedom. Through this question-answer process children learn to appreciate the boon of freedom. Speech, unique to humans, gives us freedom of choice and power. The Jews are taught: "Say little and do much" (Avos 1:15). Rav Meir had clarified: ""A man's words should always be few in addressing G-d." The contradiction between speaking "little" and to "tell" much about the journey from slavery to freedom is superficial. Few words are adequate to make a plea to or address Him because He judges, not through words, but by deeds. The ritual of singing His praise for redeeming them overnightfrom slavery to freedom. Speaking "little" is equally applicable when it comes to talking about oneself. Here runs a deep parallel to the Aham or "I" that those of the Hindu faith are exhorted to overcome so as not to become egocentric. During Passover it is forbidden to possess any Chametz. the Hebrew word for leavened food. Matzo, the unleavened bread, is eaten as a meal. Without adding yeast or giving sufficient time to ferment the dough made from flour, it is not allowed to swell up. All this symbolises the need for keep ing control over one's self. Leav ened food and leavening agents come to represent arrogance and malice. God's commandment conveyed the message that the people should not be arrogant with the Pharoah's men, and in the hour of redemption, they should take care not to fall out among themselves by becoming egocentric. The commandment exhorts them to stay together and help one another. They had heeded, as the legend goes, and had successfully crossed the Red Sea to become a cohesive nation for the first time in their history. Ever since, in commemoration, the Jews avoid leavened bread for a week starting with the night of Passover. Spirituality, in essence, is all about connecting the reality to the Omnipotent, the eternal spirit.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Tapan Chatterjee personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Tapan Chatterjee and Speaking Tree,Times of India