Judaism and Pesach (Passover).

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Hassan Nawaz 11E

R.E. Coursework Assignment: Judaism and Pesach (Passover).

Part A:

The Jewish festival of Pesach (Passover) commemorates the freedom and independence of Jews from Egyptian slavery which is best described in the Exodus. This is the liberation of the Jewish community from over two hundred years of Egyptian repression and is the remembrance of the mass exodus of Jews from Egypt. It also serves as a reminder of Jewish oppression over the years from different tyrants such as Hitler and the Egyptian pharaoh. This festival pays homage to Moses who led his people free from the subjugation in which the Egyptian pharaoh had put the Jewish people under. Festivals like these give Jews hope for the future and massacres such as the holocaust strengthens the faith of many Jews.

Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of . It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are and ). Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in , but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. The name "Pesach" comes from the Hebrew , meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In English, the holiday is known as Passover. "Pesach" is also the name of the (a lamb) that was made in the on this holiday.

The festival of Pesach began with the story of freedom of the Jews from the hands of the Egyptians (The exodus; the Book of Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament and of the Pentateuch)

Pesach is celebrated in the spring period which symbolises new beginnings, freedom, independence and the creation of the Jewish state. Everywhere in the world the Pesach is observed for one day longer than in Israel. This custom began in ancient time when the Jews living in the Diaspora could not know when the rabbis had proclaimed a new month until the messengers arrived to tell them. Continuing this ancient practice gives Jews a way of expressing the special sanctity and blessedness of the ‘holy land.’ The spiritual attainments of Pesach, for example, which maybe achieved in Israel in seven days, would take eight days everywhere else in the world.

The Exodus which is the second book of the Bible has as its main theme the emancipation of the Jewish nation from Egypt. Every year when Pesach is celebrated; the story of the exodus is read aloud by the father to his family. A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Pesach is read. This begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the Seder. The Four Questions are also known as ‘Mah Nishtanah’ (Why is it different?), which are the first words of the Four Questions. This is often sung. The maggid is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of people: the wise one, who wants to know the technical details; the wicked one, who excludes himself (and learns the penalty for doing so); the simple one, who needs to know the basics; and the one who is unable to ask, who doesn't even know enough to know what he needs to know. At the end of the maggid, a blessing is recited over the second cup of wine and it is drunk.

This is called the ‘maggid.’ Joseph who was the son of Jacob bought his family out of the severe famine and into Egypt where he had built close relations with the existing pharaoh. When Joseph took his father’s family into Egypt to avoid the harsh sufferings of famine they enjoyed many years of luxury until the new pharaoh gained power to the throne. Jacob and his family settled in Egypt, and soon became a sizeable nation. The new pharaoh knew little about Joseph and his family and cared less for their misfortunes. However many years later the country of Egypt was thrown into economic turmoil and most of their vast empire was crumbling. There was also widespread unemployment. The new Pharaoh blamed all of Egypt’s problems on the Israelites. The Jews were made scapegoats and eventually this would become a regular occurrence in their future history.

The pharaoh announced that the Jews were a threat to national security and decreed they should become slaves. It was compulsory that all able bodied Jewish men be put to work on the king’s building projects or in the treacherous mines. The Jews were treated very harshly and inhumanely and were subjected to hours of painstaking slavery.

The Jews had expected this turn of misfortune as many years earlier God had told Abraham that this was going to happen in the book of Genesis. Although he also promised Abraham that he would set the Israelites free.

Exodus takes up the story of the children of Jacob in Egypt, now under a new pharaoh and seen as feared foreigners instead of welcomed deliverers from famine. The family of Israel therefore became slave labourers in Egypt. The Jews were treated very harshly and inhumanely and were subjected to hours of painstaking slavery.

The story always begins with ‘Long ago in the land of Egypt’; a Hebrew slave named Yocheved was expecting a child. After the baby was born Yocheved took good care of the baby and hid and protected him from Pharaoh who had just ordered that all baby boys born to Hebrew women be put to death. She tried her best but could no longer mask her baby from the Egyptians. In her desperation, she hid him in a cradle and set it afloat on the River Nile, hoping someone kind would claim him.

There he not only lost the mother who bore him, but lost his extended family, his people and his culture. But he did not lose his life. Instead, the daughter of Pharaoh saved him and she became his adoptive mother. God delivered the baby Moses from danger, and he grew up in pharaoh’s court as son of pharaoh’s daughter. Because she did not know his birth name, she named the baby Moses, which means "to draw out," as in her drawing him out of the waters of the Nile. Because the great scholars of the Talmud did not know her royal Egyptian name, they gave her the Hebrew name Batyah. Batyah means "daughter of God." Jews say that because she adopted Moses, in a sense God adopted her, too.

One day many years later, Moses witnessed strife between one of his biological Hebrew kin and one of his adoptive Egyptian kin. Moses killed an Egyptian whom he saw hurting a Hebrew and then he fled from them both. God delivered the baby Moses from danger, and he grew up in pharaoh’s court as son of pharaoh’s daughter. Still he cared for the Israelites. Trying to protect one of his own people, he killed an Egyptian. Consequently Moses had to flee to the wilderness of Midian, where he helped seven endangered shepherd girls. Here he met a woman who offered him water at a well. He married the woman, Zipporah, and became a shepherd there.

Moses replenished himself in the streams of Midian and in the cycles of the seasons. He lost himself in the exotic tastes and smells of Midian. But this flight did not ultimately bring him peace: when his son was born Moses named him Gershom because it meant "a stranger in a strange land. He was still troubled by who he was and his actions which lead him to kill.

This is how it was until the day Moses led his flock to the very edge of the wilderness of Mount Sinai (horeb,) and while tending them there, he saw a burning bush. From it God called out to him and said: "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Here Moses learned the names of his Hebrew ancestors and God told Moses to return to the Egyptians and Hebrews once more. After some days wondering and thinking he decided to return and confront the Pharoah who was once his brother. With his biological brother Aaron, he faced a stubborn pharaoh, who refused to release the Israelites. He arrogantly laughed at the idea and thought it was preposterous. When pharaoh made life harder for the Jews, they gathered about Moses as they thought he was their saviour and liberator. God took this as opportunity to reveal Himself to the Jews, to pharaoh, and to the Egyptians through the many miracles he was about to perform by the power of Moses’ staff. Once Moses returned to the narrow place of his childhood, God afflicted the Egyptians with 10 horrendous Plagues. Only then would they let Moses and the Hebrew leave to begin their Search for a place of wholeness.

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It is instructed in the haggadah that at this point the cups are filled to the brim, to remember the overflowing joy felt by both Moses and the Hebrews and their new reunion and freedom. But after this each plague is recited, there is a pause to spill a drop of wine, symbolically diminishing their joy, memorialising the suffering of the Egyptians. The Jews pause because crossing the Red Sea was not enough to free them from Egypt, the narrow confining place. In order to leave and get on with their lives, they must be able to forgive and feel compassion for the people of Egypt. Moses warned the Pharaoh that his people would suffer severely because of his hasty decision. The first plague struck where all of the water in Egypt - right from water already in buckets and jars, to ponds, canals, streams, even the river Nile - turned to blood. Then all of the fish of the river died, causing a terrible stench to roam in the air of the reeling nation of Egypt. The second plague occurred. Frogs miraculously multiplied in number, so many; that the land was infested with the normally aquatic creatures. Even people's houses had been infested by them. As soon as the second plague finished the Egyptians were bombarded with the third plague where vast swarms of gnats tormented people and animals and destroyed many of their crops. The destruction was relentless and the fourth plague arrived as people were still recovering from the last plague as there were immense swarms of flies through the land, spreading squalor and disease over most of Egypt. It was inevitable that the Egyptians would be struck by the fifth plague. There was disease on the livestock - horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats - but the Jews were unharmed throughout. The sixth plague arrived and brought festering boils on people and animals throughout the land. The seventh plague continued the ruthless might of god on the Egyptians. Their came a powerful hail storms that destroyed the standing crops. The hail stones were so big that any people or animals caught outside in the storm were killed instantaneously. The eighth plague came swiftly after the other. Locusts came in such great numbers that the ground was covered with them. They devoured everything that survived the hail storm. The ninth plague had struck the already suffering nation of Egypt. Darkness fell over the entire land of Egypt for three days, but the Israelites had light in Goshen. Still the Pharaoh lay stubborn and refused to let the Jews go. Moses asked Pharaoh for the last time and still he stood resolute so he was given a stark warning that the most devastating plague would be unleashed on the people of Egypt and that they would never be the same again.

God unleashed the final and most deadly plague of them all. Death came to the eldest child in each Egyptian household. However the Jews were not harmed as they had received specific information from God before the final plague. The Jews were told to get a lamb or young goat for his or her household and then on the fourteenth day of the month the whole community of Israel would have to kill these animals. They were then instructed to take some of the blood of the sacrificed animals and smear it on their doorposts above the doors in which the animals are to be eaten. On that night the meat was roasted and eaten with bitter herbs and with bread made without yeast (Matzah.) The Jews were not able to leave any of this leavened bread until the morning; if any was left over it was burnt. God ordered them to eat quickly, for they were dressed to travel, with their sandals on their feet and their sticks in their hands. They were told by God that this was the Passover to honour him.

The festival was called Pesach, because that night the angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelites which were marked with blood but went into the houses of the Egyptians who had unmarked doorposts. ‘Pesach’ is also the name of the (a lamb) that was made in the on this holiday. As a consequence of this the eldest or firstborn son in every Egyptian house was killed. From this the Pharaoh was left with no other option other than to let the Israelites free. Without Gods intervention the Jews believe they would never have escaped.

The nation of Israel fled their homes so quickly to flee through the desert that they packed only raw dough, not having time to bake their breads. They cooked this dough in the hot sun into hard crackers called ‘matzohs.’ This was a symbol of slavery and also freedom. Now, matzohs are eaten in place of bread during Pesach.

Symbolically, the removal of leavened items, chametz, from Jewish homes stands for the removal of arrogance and pride from one's soul. Chametz includes anything made of the major grains that have not been completely cooked within 18 minutes of coming in contact with water or any leavened items. Throughout the eight days leavened bread (Matzah) must be eaten. Leavened bread or food containing leaven (chametz) must be excluded from the Jewish house for the eight days. The house must be rid of all traces of chametz and even the utensils used to prepare it. The dishes normally used in the home may not be used during Pesach. The task may take several weeks with kitchens being scrubbed down.

As the Israelites fled Egypt, the Pharaoh again resisted and led his army after them. The Jews had to cross the red sea in order to escape the Egyptian army and into the wilderness which was the Sinai desert. Here the miracle of the Red Sea became the greatest moment in Jewish history, as God led them through the divided waters of the sea and then flooded the sea again as the Egyptians tried to follow them.

The Jews followed God’s leadership which was Moses into the wilderness, but soon the difficult life in the wilderness proved too hard. The Israelites cried for the good old days of Egypt, even after God supplied their basic food and drink needs. Then Israel came to Sinai, where God called them to become His covenant people, a holy nation to carry out Abraham’s mission of blessing the nations. God gave the Ten Commandments and other laws central to the covenant, and then confirmed the covenant in a mysterious ceremony. Moses went to the top of the mountain to receive the remainder of God’s instructions, especially instructions for building the sacred place of worship, the tabernacle. The Jews got Aaron, Moses biological brother to build an object of worship they could see, so he made the golden calf. The people began worshiping this idol. This angered God immensely, who sent Moses back down to the people. Moses prayed for the people despite their sin, but then saw the people’s sinful actions and threw the tablets with the law to the ground, breaking them. Moses again went up and prayed for the people. God punished them but did not destroy them as He had threatened. God showed His continued presence in the Tent of Meeting and in letting His glory pass by Moses. God then gave Moses the law on two new tablets of stone and renewed the covenant with the people, providing further basic laws for them. After this story is recited the Seder service is conducted.

Taking place the first 2 nights of the 8 day holiday, the Seder is the most important event in the Passover celebration. Usually gathering the whole family and friends together, the Seder is steeped in long held traditions and customs Leading up to the first night of Passover, the home is cleaned and cleared of all yeast foods, called hametz. All hametz is either eaten before Passover begins or "sold" to non-Jewish neighbours and friends

The rules surrounding Passover are strict and many, with only special foods, utensils, and dishware allowed Kitchen utensils and dishware normally used in the home are not be used during Passover. Special dishes and utensils for the Passover holiday are taken out of storage, cleaned and used. Only foods that are ‘Kosher for Passover’ are allowed. No leavened (containing yeast) foods or grains are eaten. In their place matzoh and foods containing matzoh are eaten. This is to commemorate the Israelites who fled quickly into the desert with no time for their breads to rise and were forced to bake the dough into hard crackers in the desert sun. All foods prohibited during Passover must be disposed of the morning of the first night of Passover.

With its Passover dishware and silverware, the Seder table is different than the regular dinner table. The centrepiece of which is the Seder plate, a special plate containing the 5 foods that remind Jews of the struggle of the Israelites in their quest and journey to freedom

Three pieces of matzoh are placed in a Matzoh Cover (a cloth sleeve or envelope) and placed in the centre of the Seder table. Before the meal begins the middle matzoh is removed and broken in half. One half is returned to the Matzoh Cover, the other - the Afikomen - is hidden, to be hunted by the children at the end of the Seder meal. The child who finds the Afikomen wins a special prize. Some homes break the Afikomen in to many pieces assuring that each child present can find a piece and receive a prize

The Seder plate contains foods that have special meaning for the Pesach holiday:

Haroseth.
Parsley (dipped in salt water.)
Roasted egg.
Shank Bone.
Bitter herbs.

The Haroseth is a sweet mixture of chopped walnuts, wine, cinnamon and apples that represents the mortar the Jewish slaves used to assemble the Pharaoh's bricks. It makes Jews think about the sweetness of their freedom.

The parsley symbolises springtime, it is dipped in salt water to remind Jews of the tears of the Jewish slaves when they suffered so much in the hands of the Egyptians. A green vegetable that is called Karpas in Hebrew can also be used. Normally parsley or lettuce are used, whose greenness is a reminder that Pesach is a spring festival.

The egg, which is boiled or roasted, is another symbol of spring and new beginnings. It is a traditional symbol of mourning. This is not eaten and also symbolises the burnt offerings once made in the temple. They are a symbol of new life. It recalls the destruction of the temple by the Romans also.

The shank bone is symbolic of the sacrificial lamb offering; the bone can come from whatever the family is eating, such as the leg bone of a roasted turkey. The shank bone is used because it also symbolises that Israel’s salvation was with ‘an outstretched arm.’

The bitter herbs, usually horseradish which has a taste so strong, that it makes the eyes water, reminds Jews of the bitterness and affliction of slavery.

During the Seder 4 glasses of wine are poured to represent the 4 stages of the exodus

freedom
deliverance
redemption
release

A fifth cup of wine is poured and placed on the Seder table. This is the Cup of Elijah, an offering for the Prophet Elijah. During the Seder the door to the home is opened to invite the prophet Elijah in

After the meal is eaten, the children search for the Afikomen. The Seder is finished when the children have found the Afikomen and everyone has eaten a piece. It is said that the Seder is celebrated especially for the children. It is important for Jewish children to be and feel involved in the celebration of Passover. Much of the ceremony is based on the commandment in the Torah that says, ""

At the Seder the Haggadah, the Book of Exodus, is read and the history celebrated with its stories, songs and prayers. The children ask such questions as:

Why is this night different?
Why do we eat such unusual foods as Matzah, the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs?
Why do we dip green herbs in salt water?
Why do we open doors?
Why do we hide and then eat the Afikomen?

At the Seder it is the youngest child at the table who answers the four questions asked at Pesach. They also lean on a pillow to be comfortable and to remind them that once they were slaves, but now they are free. The Haggadah itself stresses the importance of the Seder as "a spectacle meant to excite the interest and the curiosity of the children." Everything in the Seder is meant to make the children curious and to ask questions

Part B:

The symbolism and teachings of Pesach affect the lives of many Jews and also help them to meet the demands of their faith. There is am immense impact of Pesach on many modern Jews. They are affected by many different ways by Pesach from its rituals and educational teachings.

One way in which most Jews are affected is the huge impact of Jewish tradition. These are significant customs which have been carried out for thousands of years in Jewish history. By taking part, learning and performing the different requirements of Pesach a Jew is linking himself or herself to history, and also being part of the Jewish heritage and its long legacy. Pesach is celebrating an event that happened 3,300 years ago so it is a tradition brought down through the centuries. Because it is a tradition it is encourages Jews to be a part of it so they can meet the demands of their faith. This way they can become better Jews and strengthen their knowledge of their history. In doing this Jews are able to reinforce their link and faith with God by learning what he has done and teaching their children, so they can follow the covenant knowledgeably and be intellectual in their own faith. The hope, kindness and promise from God can then be remembered through this tradition so the next generation of Jews can know their history, strengthen their faith and pass it along with a pride that is certainly not arrogant.

Pesach is a time in which the family gets together and celebrate and also get educated on their faith as a family. The very old generation integrate and mix with the younger generation who are still learning actively through their young age. This is passing on the faith of Judaism through all the generations. An example in which all the family participate in the same activity on Pesach is when they perform the Chametz. The family learns from this ritual as it symbolises slavery, freedom and a reminder of their past.

The Seder meal also has a large impact on many Jews. The seriousness of the meal is portrayed by its symbolism and meaning as it serves as a reminder of their history and many struggles which they have had to endure. The times when Jews have suffered through the exodus in Egypt, Babylon, the nineteenth century pogroms in Russia and the Holocaust I which millions of Jews were persecuted because of their religious beliefs. This meal celebrates the freedom and independence of the Jews from their many oppressors and dictators which they have had to suffer so much from. Pesach can also help to ease the pains of Jews from such events as the Holocaust by remembering a joyous event to celebrate so they can appreciate the sacrifices and efforts that were done to give Jews today a better life. These events strengthen Jews' hopes and faith in God so that they do not give up, because they believe God will be there for them and all they have to do is believe and follow the covenant. Pesach also gives Jews a chance to think about other people, as well as themselves and God. They can think about the many people in the world who aren't free to live how they want to. They can hope that one day everyone will be free. So this event enables Jews to think of others and not be selfish as well as try and treat everyone equally.

There is also, just simply a lot of joy involved which is a contrast from the pain which other generations of Jews have had to live through. It is also a time for relaxation. An Example of such joyous events in Pesach is the wine drinking which symbolises joy and gladness. It is a toast to the four expressions used in the Torah in relation to Israel’s redemption. A further example of joy in Pesach is when Jews recline at the meal which was an ancient practice and also the mark of freedom.

Jews celebrate Pesach in these ways because of traditions and rituals which were passed down from generations over thousands of years in their history. These methods of celebrating Pesach are a way of enabling Jews to keep their identity and give them a sense of belonging and serve a purpose of re-igniting their faith. It also distinguishes them from other people of different religions and cultures, it makes them unique. These customs are also a reminder of their history and such rituals as the Seder meal symbolise the past.

Jews learn a lot of information and knowledge of their faith in the period of Pesach. They learn about their history and background through different sources such as family and also the Torah and the other scriptures. The different traditions and techniques of the Matzot are learnt, passed on, and discussed within the family. Pesach also serves as a large centre of education where younger generations learn about their faith and build on their intellect. They learn such things as being the ‘chosen people’ and the when they will be in the Promised Land. The younger Jews learn about their identity, the importance of their faith and what it really means to be a Jew. They learn about the sacrifices other Jews have made in order for them to lead untroubled lives.

There are many positives aspects which can be obtained through celebrating Pesach as a Jew. One very important aspect of Pesach is that the family get together and rejoice. This is a very joyful occasion as the family spend time together to celebrate a special moment in their calendar. Pesach in a way celebrates freedom and liberty. It commemorates all the occasions in which the Jewish nation has been set free from awkward situations. It celebrates the achievements of people who have helped the Jewish people get through such moments of harshness and inequality such as Moses. Another positive of Pesach is that it is a time where younger Jews can be educated on their faith, history and teachings. From this they can learn and understand more about themselves and the history of their people. Pesach gives Jews a reminder that there will be hope in the future which will bring good luck and tidings. This is demonstrated when a younger member of the Jewish family says “next year in Jerusalem we will be free,” this emphasises their hope for the future.

A further positive of celebrating Pesach is that it builds discipline and restraint in Jew and a sense of spiritual calmness and peace. It is a good way to get rid of the habits of everyday life and focus on something really important such as Pesach. Celebrating Pesach is also a great opportunity to pass on knowledge and information about Judaism to the rest of the family. This is a good way of actively passing on information through generations of Jewish brethren. By performing such an important act for ones faith Jews are keeping their history alive and promoting their own faith to their children.

Pesach aids many Jews to cope with the activities of the modern world in many ways. It helps Jews through such events as the ‘Middle East crisis’ which affects many Jews on a daily basis. It helps Jews escape anti Semitism which has blighted Jews throughout their history. This occurs all over the world and Pesach helps erase such distressing moments. Pesach masks out such malevolent events as the worldwide bombing of synagogues and the suffering of many of their fellow Jews. It helps Jews to live with such coward actions as the desecration of synagogues with swastikas and other racist symbols of hate. Passover, for many Jews builds hope for the future. Many Jews know they have the ability to come through such hard times as they have tolerated such ignorance throughout their history.

There are several differences between the methods in which Orthodox and Reform Jews carry out and celebrate Pesach. One example may be that Orthodox Jews, who are quite religious and strict in their ways, conduct the Seder over the first two nights. Whereas Reform Jews who are quite relaxed on their methods celebrate and carry out the Seder over one night. Orthodox Jews usually have separate utensils and cutlery used for Passover to make sure they have had no contact with leaven (chametz.) They are very particular about this as no leaven is allowed in the house until Pesach is ended. This shows great discipline and mental strength. Leaven is forbidden in the Jewish house for eight days and all things even food must exclude leaven. Jews regard chametz as a symbol of pride, since it swells as it bakes.

Pesach disciplines and brings obedience to Jews in many ways. One example of how Pesach brings discipline is when Jews have to eat Matzah for the eight days in which Pesach lasts. It takes great mental strength especially if you are a child to keep to such strict rules about a food which is eaten everyday. A task like this creates great discipline but also has rewards; after a Jew has completed such a challenge they feel very proud and content to what they have just accomplished and therefore have a feeling of great happiness and joy.

Another way Pesach builds discipline in Jews is the way they are committed in keeping and celebrating such holy days. The festival of Pesach does this in the way that other Jewish holy days such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur do. These holy days follow on from Pesach

Part C:

I partly agree with the statement “festivals are the best way to learn about your faith.” I think this statement is partially correct in one sense as most or all people of a particular faith celebrate an important festival irrespective of whether they are religious or unreligious. Festivals are a good way of learning more about ones faith as it marks significant events in their histories. However I think if someone is dedicated and interested in their religion they should be learning more about their faith all the time, and not just we there are festivals.

However there are some people who believe that festivals are a good way of learning more about their faith. One reason of supporting this statement might be that some of the religious symbols and artefacts in festivals such as Pesach are really important to the Jewish faith. Most of these artefacts and symbols; symbolise important things such as teachings and important moments in the history of ones faith. Examples of these may be the ark, mezuzah, the tallith and tephillin which have significant positions in Jewish history and symbolism. For example when different questions are asked at Pesach after the seder meal; these serves as a learning point about the past and demonstrate the ability of different Jewish festivals to hold reflective knowledge.

Another reason why some Jews believe that festivals are a good way of learning about their faith is that some of the traditions and rituals in festivals serve as a reminder of their faith and also about their religious history of Jews e.g. the Passover and the exodus.

Different types of food and drink serve as a learning source to most Jews. It raises questions to young, curious Jews to why they eat certain things and what they represent. Jewish cutlery and special utensils also serve a purpose in symbolising some of the events which occurred in the past, like the Seder plate, the Kiddush, and the ‘Hadlakat ha-Nerot’ which is the lighting of the candles to open the ceremony of Pesach.

Festivals are a great way for the family to get together, where the young and old mix and share there thoughts, ideas and questions with each other. Different generations and ages of people can learn a lot from one another especially from the older members of the family. They are more experienced and knowledgeable about such things as religion and festivals.

Many different stories are read at festivals like Pesach. Jews can learn a lot from these stories. They learn more about their faith, history and identity. They learn about all the hardships their ancestors overcame and had to face in the past. A lot can be learned about ones faith from such stories, as they are based on most of the main principles of that particular religion. Festivals may be the main learning experience for most reform Jews who may not celebrate the Sabbath or keep the kashrut. Celebrating festivals would be a focal learning point for a reform Jew as this would be their main means of picking up information about their faith. Another of learning from festivals is by reading special scriptures or artefacts such as the ‘haggadah’ in Pesach. A Haggadah is the traditional booklet for the celebration of Passover that recounts Moses' leading the Exodus out of Egypt. Also contained in a haggadah are psalms, prayers, songs and rituals. These would help reform Jews immensely as this guides them through how to conduct the festival in the most appropriate manner.

At such times as festivals where the family get together and celebrate it is a time to pass on their faith not just to themselves but to the world wide community and this promotes unity amongst Jews all over the world.

A final reason for supporting this statement is that they build hope and strength for the future. An example of this is when the youngest child in the Jewish family says “next year in Jerusalem.” The different variety of Jewish festivals all contribute in aiding younger or reform Jews to learn more about their faith and history.

However many other Jews believe that there are other ways to learn about their faith, other than celebrating festivals. Some Orthodox Jews believe that attending Yeshiva which is Hebrew school is a good way in learning about your faith and Jewish identity. Many other Jews believe that just simply attending the synagogue and listening to the services said out by the rabbi is a good way of learning about ones faith. Participating in Shabbat is a great way of learning more about Judaism as there are many important artefacts which symbolise important stages in Jewish history. They also serve as an important reminder of Gods presence in the Jewish home and this provides security for some Jews.

Another way of learning more about Judaism instead of learning in festivals is by keeping Kosher or keeping the Kashrut and therefore obeying the 613 matzot. This builds great discipline and strength in a Jew. By obeying and practicing one rule or law a Jew can learn many others because they are performing their duty as a Jew. A further way of learning about Judaism is by reading, understanding and discussing the Torah. By exploring many of the teachings of the scriptures a Jew can improve their religious intellect immensely in many ways.

Just by wearing and learning the meaning behind the Tallith and Tephillin a Jew is learning a great deal about their faith. Wearing different garments which have significant symbolic meanings is a good way to learn about ones faith and is a way of showing your identity.

Different symbols around the home e.g. mezuzah, Kiddush cup also have very important purposes in educating a young Jew in many of the important aspects of Judaism such as the sanctity of the home. Many of these symbols around the Jewish home portray some of the central events which occurred in the Jewish history.

Another way in which Jews can be educated is by learning from the teachings they receive from the rabbi. They can learn and act upon these teachings and spread this knowledge to others maybe to reform Jews. One of the most obvious ways of learning about faith and religion is by learning from family and parents. One of the most important duties a parent (mother mostly) can do for their child is to educate them in the ways of Judaism. The mother is chiefly responsible for teaching her children. Jews learn from the rituals and traditions of Judaism in the home. They watch the mother prepare for such events as Shabbat and then open the weekly festival by lighting two candles and saying a blessing over them. By setting a good example a mother is expected to strengthen the family’s religious life and commitment. The father also has a responsibility for setting a good example and acting as role model for his children, and addition he is required to teach them how to lead useful lives of their own. The Talmud carries a stark warning to all Jewish fathers: “he who does not teach his son a trade is as though he taught him to be a robber.”

The importance placed on parents teaching their children is set out in the Shema: “never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children.”

In my opinion I think both factors contribute in the education of Jews, although I think if you are interested in your religion you would find other means of answering your curiosity on your faith. However I do think that if you a reform Jew, festivals are a great way of learning about the faith, teachings and history of Judaism. It is also a good way to know more about who you are and more about your own identity.

THE

FESTIVAL

PESACH

HASSAN NAWAZ

CANDIDDATE NUMBER: 4118

CENTRE NUMBER: 20568

Resources used.

Mrs Mouzer,

Miss Hill,

Miss Newsome- Reform Jew,

BBC Documentary on Judaism and the festival of Pesach.

Judaism and Pesach (Passover).

This is a preview of the whole essay

Why is this night different?

Why do we eat such unusual foods as Matzah, the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs?

Why do we dip green herbs in salt water?

Why do we open doors?

Why do we hide and then eat the Afikomen?

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