Explain the significance of the food and Ritual objects used at the festival of Passover.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

CARLY HODGKINSON 11D

Explain the significance of the food and Ritual objects used at the festival of Passover.

(24 Marks)

“Passover is for everyone.” How is this idea expressed in Judaism?

(21 Marks)

In your opinion, is the festival of Passover still relevant in today’s society?

(15Marks)

A) Explain the significance of the food and ritual objects used at the festival of Passover. (24 Marks)

During the festival of Pesach, Jews do not eat any bread that has risen. This generally means no bread with yeast in it. The reason for this is that G-d commanded the Israelites to mark their freedom from slavery in Egypt with an annual festival, a time to give thanks to G-d for intervening. During the Passover festival Jews do not eat or posses wheat or leavened bread (chametz). The symbolism of not eating chametz is that Jews regard chametz as a symbol of pride, due to it swelling as it bakes. Pride is thought to make people believe they are self-sufficient and don’t turn to G-d when in need. Pesach, and not eating chametz shows how Jews remember God and turn to him when help is needed.

Throughout Pesach there are many rituals and ritual objects. Before Pesach all chametz must be removed from the household. A total spring clean is undertaken in many houses. All kitchen appliances that have been used throughout the year must be thoroughly cleaned to ensure all chametz has been removed, the work surfaces also need to be cleaned.

New crockery, saucepans, cutlery and other food preparation utensils are often changed for Pesach and the items used throughout the year are locked away. Some Jews sell all chametz to non-Jews before the festival to show their full effort in removing chametz.

The Haggadah is used during the Passover meal; it is like a guidebook of the rituals that take place. This ensures no important parts are left out. On the table there are generally two candles that are lit by the mother. The mother welcomes the festival into the house. Once the candles have been lit, the festival has begun. A Seder dish is placed on the table, it contains five different parts: Charoset, Maror, Karpas, Shank bone and baked egg.

Seats or chairs are often equipped with cushions; this allows people present to lean on their left sides while eating and reciting the Haggadah (except for eating of the maror), which imitates the freemen and nobility that Jews now have.

"Elijah's" cup is filled with wine and the front door is left open. To remember how the prophet Elijah will return to herald the coming of the messiah. The door of the house or room is often left open to show how the family is ready to welcome the messiah.

There are many different foods that are eaten during Pesach that are not generally eaten everyday in the same way. Each of the five foods contained in the Seder dish have a symbolic meaning, however there are more foods other than the five in the dish that make the Passover meal what it is.

A burnt egg and burnt bone are two of the parts of the Seder plate. These are a reminder to Jews of the sacrifices that were historically offered in the ancient temple. The egg is a reminder that the more an egg is cooked the harder it becomes as the more Jews are prosecuted and work through their troubles the stronger the become. The shank bone is also thought to be symbolic of G-d’s out stretched arm over the Jewish people, protecting them. This is due to the shape of the shank bone.

Charoset ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Charoset is a mixture of crushed almonds and apples mixed with wine and cinnamon. It has a similar texture to river mud and is used to represent the mud bricks the Jewish slaves were forced to make in Egypt. It is also a symbol of the Promised Land as in the bible it refers to these fruits.

Maror, or bitter herbs are a symbol of the bitterness felt by the Jews. Horseradish or long lettuce is often used. The crisp leaves stand for freedom and the bitter stalk symbolises slavery. This must be thoroughly washed to ensure there are no insets on the leaves to comply with the kosher food laws.

Karpas, another of the five foods on the Seder plate is very often parsley or radishes. The word ‘Karpas’ is made up of Hebrew word for hard labour ‘perech’ meaning that Karpas is a symbol for slavery. Karpas is dipped in salt water; this commemorates a bunch of Hyssop, which would have been dipped in the blood of the Pesach sacrifice by Israelites to mark their doors for protection against the angel of death. For the same reason Karpas is also a symbol of freedom. The salt water is used to symbolise the tears of the slaves in Egypt and the splitting of the red sea to allow the Jews to escape.

Three whole pieces of matzah are placed in a matzah dekel; the middle matzah is broken into two. The larger part is set-aside for the Afikoman. The smaller part is kept with the other two matzah. This represents the splitting of the Red Sea and the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. It is traditional for small children to "steal" the Afikomen and hide it. After the meal the father "buys" it back with offers of gifts. This keeps the children entertained throughout the long Seder meal.

Matzah is used to remember how the Israelites during slavery in Egypt ate unleavened bread. When the Israelites left Egypt there was only time to bake matzah. By eating matzah it acts as a link to the past and the suffering of Israelites in Egypt and what they went through for future generations. It links Jews past, future and present reinforcing the whole Jewish community.

Wine during the Seder meal four cups of wine are consumed each representing the four ways God spoke about setting the Israelites free.

‘I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, I will take you to me’ (Exodus 6:6-7).

Red wine used to represent blood of slaves who were beaten in Egypt. It also represents the blood of freedom when Israelites smeared blood on their houses to protect their first-born sons.

b) ‘Passover is for everyone’. How is this idea expressed in Judaism?

(21 Marks)

Passover is a very family-orientated festival for Jewish people. The reason for this is that it is primarily celebrated at home, not in the synagogue. How ever throughout the Pesach period there are normal synagogue services, which are no different to normal except readings from exodus will be read.

Each member of the family has a part to play in the festival of Passover. The housewife gives the house a spring clean to remove any chametz that is in the house before Pesach begins. This is a reminder to Jews of the haste that the slaves left Egypt, not having enough time for the bread to rise. In removing all chametz the Jewish community as a whole is remembering this time in their history.

To ensure the house has been thoroughly members of the family hide ten pieces of bread around the house for another to find. With a candle and feather (ancient equivalent of a candle and torch) they search the house for bread. Any chametz found by the family is traditionally placed in a paper bag. Before the search begins the following blessing is read:

“You are the blessed Lord,

You are our G-d, ruler of

The universe, who has

Made us holy

Through His commandments,

And instructed us concerning

The removal of leaven.” (Haggadah)

After the final meal of chametz before Pesach the bag of chametz is burned, a declaration is made to giving up any chametz you have missed. This process is the ritual of giving up ownership of chametz.

“Any category of leaven

That is in my possession,

Both that which I have located

As well as that which I have not,

Both that which I have destroyed

As well as that which I have not,

Should be regarded as annulled

And as ownerless

As the dust of the earth.” (Haggadah)

The children will join in this tradition by hiding or helping to find the ten items. This keeps alive the spirit of Passover for everyone, not just adults.

At the beginning of the Seder meal the wife welcomes the festival into the house by lighting the candles and saying the Kaddesh, the festival sanctification.

During the meal youngest member present asks four questions to their father:

On all other nights we eat leavened or unleavened bread, why on this night do we only eat unleavened?
On all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs why ion this night do we only eat bitter herbs?
On all other nights we do not dip the vegetables even once, why on this night do we dip them twice?
On all other nights we eat in either a sitting position or reclining, why on this night do we all recline?

The purpose of having the youngest member present asking these questions is that it keeps the knowledge of Passover in the family and the children learn about the festival so in the future they can carry out their own Seder meal. It includes everyone present at the meal to the festival.

As the father reads the story and history of Passover every member of the family dip a finger into their wine and as each plague is mentioned they flick a drop of wine onto the table in remembrance that the plagues. Although they allowed Jews to leave slavery, it also caused great human suffering.

At the end of the formal Seder meal traditionally the father takes the afikoman and hides it. The children search the house for it, when it’s found the finder receives a present. The afikoman is then shared around the table with all present. Passover is a time for happiness and fun too, the family join in readings and sing songs.

As with all Jewish festivals and celebrations, Passover is celebrated in the home, as the family is the centre of the faith. During Pesach it is a time for mothers to pass on their knowledge of the faith to their daughters, it is a time for looking back as well as looking to the future. This ensures the traditions of the Jewish faith are passed on through generations.

The 1st day of Pesach is historically the day of the death of the first born. On this day 1st born boys give thanks to G-d for allowing the angel of death to pass over the Jewish males.

During Pesach no one is alone, visitors and guests are invited into the family if they would otherwise be by themselves. Every Jew celebrates Passover the same regardless of sex or age as G-d saved every one from slavery, not just select people. Jews stick together during Passover as they remember the need for unity and strength in previous times of difficulty.

C) In your opinion, is the festival of Passover still relevant for today’s society?

(15 Marks)

The exodus and liberation of the Jews in Egypt is also part of the history of Christianity. If Christians no longer celebrate this festival why should Jews? They obviously don’t believe that Passover is worth celebrating and there must have historically been valid reasons for this.

The exodus happened so many years ago, approximately three thousand. What help or comfort does remembering the pain and suffering of the slaves in Egypt do to today’s society? Jews are no longer persecuted in this way so there is no relevance of the story to Jews today.

Looking back is not necessarily a good thing. It can bring back bitter thoughts towards groups of people. The past can’t be changed so there is no point in bringing it up every year. More time should be spent thinking about how G-d helps now and intervenes now and will do in the future, remembering more recent times of persecution may be more relevant to people today as things can be learnt from something that is more recent. An example of this could be the holocaust.

More time should be spent thanking God for the situation Jews are in at the moment and looking forward to the messiah and messianic age than looking in the past. The festival of Passover is old fashioned, liberal or reform Jews believe this and have up dated the festival however orthodox and traditional Jews do not believe this.

However people believe that God is still intervening in Judaism and it is important to remember and give thanks for the past so that God will do the same again. Remembering the times of trial of the faith is good to show that in the end God helps and brings His people to liberation.

It is important to know the history of your faith and people need to know what happened in the past. It is important to remember and learn from the past. If Passover was forgotten and missed out of the Jewish faith then other festivals and traditions would begin to be lost. As a result of this the faith would have no history or structure and it would be the end of Judaism.

Passover is a time for families to come together. It gives emotional and religious support as well to every member of the Jewish faith as no body is alone during Passover. It is a time for children to learn and be taught about the faith in a fun and interesting way. It is a spiritually important festival to give thanks to God for care in the past. It is an active link of the past, present and future.

I believe that religious festivals in any religion are very important to keep the faith alive. They are a time for families to join together and remember their past. It is a chance for children to learn more about their faith and past. Festivals are generally happy times, and anything that unites and brings joy to a group of people is a good thing. I believe that this is important in the festival of Pesach as well.

Passover is still relevant in today’s society to those who believe that it is. If a Jew does not believe that it is relevant then, to them it is not worth celebrating. As they will not learn or teach anything from the experience it is not something they should waste their time on.

Passover is important and relevant to the religion of Judaism, although I believe that some of the traditions are not necessary in today’s society. Passover is a time for families to unite in something they, as a small community, believe in. Pesach is a time to learn from the past and put that into action in the future. It is a link from the past to the present to the future.

Bibliography: