Passover Mixes Historical, Spiritual Theme, Rabbi Says

Rabbi Michael Berk of Temple Beth Torah in Ventura said he hopes that with the beginning of Passover on Monday night, his congregation members will remember not only the trials and triumphs of the ancient Israelites but also renew their sense of spiritual identity and ask themselves how they can become better Jews.

“It’s not just a chance for us to remember the birth of our people,” Berk said. “But on a more personal level, it’s a chance for them to ask what sort of ‘Egypts,’ or narrow perceptions, they have inside them.”

Beginning at sundown Monday, many of Ventura County’s more than 25,000 Jews will spend the following eight days celebrating Passover--one of the most significant holidays on the Jewish calendar.

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is taken from the Old Testament story in the book of Exodus during which God passed over the homes of the Israelites and slew every first-born Egyptian male to persuade the pharaoh to set the Hebrew slaves free. The holiday is celebrated because it commemorates an event that gave the Hebrews a national identity.

Berk said that Passover set in motion a historical progression for the Jewish people that culminates in the arrival of the Messiah. Jews must strive to mold the world according to a blueprint of peace, forgiveness and empathy.

“There is a messianic message in Passover and the themes of redemption are very important,” he said. “It reminds us that there’s still work to be done.”

Passover is celebrated through a feast called the Seder during which families share meals and read from the Hagaddah, a book containing the Exodus story, Psalms of praise and numerous Jewish benedictions.

The Seder, meaning “order” in Hebrew, is a ritualistic meal celebrated on the first day of Passover and contains five symbolic courses. A roasted lamb bone, called the zeroah, is not eaten but represents the lamb that was sacrificed on the eve of the Exodus. A roasted egg, called the betzah, is also not eaten and symbolizes the temple sacrifices made during Jewish holidays. Bitter herbs, called the maror, are eaten to remind celebrants of the bitterness of slavery. A mixture of ground apples, nuts and wine, called the haroset, is a reminder of the mortar used by the Hebrews to make bricks for the pyramids. And sprigs of fresh parsley, called karpas, symbolize spring and the renewal of life.

Additionally, the feast includes a small bowl of saltwater, representative of the tears of the oppressed, into which celebrants dip their food and matzo, or unleavened bread, which is eaten to symbolize the haste of the Jews’ departure from Egypt.

Berk said the Seder is a resonant ritual that brings Jews closer to their religious history and particular identity.

“There’s something about participating in a ceremony that has been celebrated for thousands of years,” he said. “It makes us feel very connected and rooted in our past.”

Children are encouraged to ask specific questions about the food during the Seder and why it is important. For instance, children can ask why they have to eat unleavened bread. The answer is because in the haste of their exodus, the Hebrews did not have time to let their bread rise and had to eat the flat matzo.

“Children play a very important role in Passover,” said Rabbi Shimon Paskow of Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks. “Because of the questions they ask, they not only learn about their heritage but remind everyone else why the holiday is important.”

For the remainder of the holiday, the observant cannot eat leavened bread. On the eighth day, celebrants attend the Yizkor, a religious service where they remember and pay respects to those who have died.