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Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is the Jewish remembrance of G-d's saving them and leading them out of salvery in Egypt. The holiday gets its name from the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Israelites when He visited the ninth plague upon the stubborn Egyptians: the death of the firstborn sons. After this plague, Pharoah gave in and let the Israelites go, only to change his mind and pursue them, but to no avail.
Jews observe Passover by removing all leaven from their homes in remembrance of their ancestors who left Egypt in such a rush that they didn't have time to let the bread rise. This practice has a deeper meaning as well: it symbolizes removing the pride and arrogance that can "puff up" a person's soul.
Passover lasts for seven days, and on the first night Jewish families celebrate a special meal, called a seder, in which traditional and symbolic foods are eaten and special prayers are said. |
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Shabbat, Hebrew for Sabbath, is the most important ritual observance for Jews. It begins at sunset Friday and lasts until Saturday evening. On Shabbat, all work is prohibited, and observant Jews spend the day in rest and prayer. There are two important commands related to Shabbat: zachor-- to remember, and shamor-- to observe. Jews are commanded to remember that after six days of creation, G-d rested. Human beings, therefore, when they cease from their work to rest, not only remember and acknowledge the creative power of G-d, but actually imitate His example. Jews also remember that, just as they are freed on Shabbat from their everyday work and worries, so their ancestors were freed from slavery in Egypt. Observing Shabbat consists primarily in refraining from all work, including writing and any form of cooking which involves igniting a fire (i.e. electricity). While these prohibitions may sound stifling, those who observe Shabbat look forward to it as a day of profound peace, rest and spiritual renewal-- a way to create sacred space in the hectic work-a-day world. |
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