Why is this night different from all others?

[docetboy]

Mah Nishtana...

What makes this night different from all [other] nights?

Four times the Torah bids us tell our children about the Exodus from Egypt. Four times the Torah repeats: "And you shall tell your child on that day..."

We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the L-rd, our G-d, took us out from there with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm. If the Holy One, blessed be He, had not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then we, our children and our children's children would have remained enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt. Even if all of us were wise, all of us understanding, all of us knowing the Torah, we would still be obligated to discuss the exodus from Egypt; and everyone who discusses the exodus from Egypt at length is praiseworthy.





Happy Pesach everyone...

L'Shana Tova, Berushalayim.

--- Next year in Jerusalem

[PhiPsiRuss]

Happy Passover everyone! I'm off to my Mom's home in a few minutes. For those of you want to celebrate the hip, abridged (although not exactly accurate) Pesach, just listen to Bob Marley's Exodus a few times.

Shalom.

[Rudey]

Happy Pesach. I'm off for it. I hope you all use the time to reflect on the true meaning.

-Rudey

[GeekyPenguin]

Would one of our Jewish GCers like to explain the significance of today?

[Tom Earp]

Yes in GeekyPs words, Please explain this to us all!

I would be in Hopes that We can all learn something new and enlighting for each of us!

Peace To All!

[adpiucf]

Passover commemorates the story of Moses and the Exodus in the Old Testament. During the first two nights, there are two large feasts, called the Seder (Hebrew for "Order") where the story is retold from a book called the Haggada.

No food containing yeast (called 'Chometz' or 'Chametz' in Hebrew) is allowed in the house during the holiday of Passover. Only unleavened bread, called Matzah, is permitted. This symbolizes the unleavened bread that the Israelites or Hebrews made in haste, as they were fleeing Egypt. There are other ceremonial foods eaten during Seder to commemorate the Exodus.

As the Jewish Calendar is based on the lunar cycle, it always appears Jewish holidays are "skipping around" because the rest of the world is based on a calendar which is based on the revolutions of the earth around the sun.

[AlphaSigOU]

Happy Passover, Docetboy... less than 20 days to go ya short-timer 'fore you get shipped off to Lackland!

[tunatartare]

Happy Passover to all of the Jews! I wish I could be celebrating with my family, but for the first time, I have to miss the seder because I'm at school. I'm all stocked up on Kosher for Passover goodies though.
Le Shana Habaa b'Yerushalayim Havnuyah.

[ZTAngel]

Happy Passover!

I wish I was with my family too but I can't drive home for just the day. For everyone who is spending tonight with their families, enjoy it!

[AUDeltaGam]

Happy Passover!

Though this will be the first year I haven't been at home for the seder.

[aephi alum]

Happy Pesach everyone

Went to my in-laws for the seder. Holidays with them are always an adventure...

[PhiPsiRuss]

Here is a full explanation coutesy of http://www.holidays.net/passover/story.html

The Story of Passover

About 3000 years ago the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians under the rule of the Pharaoh Ramses II. According to the Book of Exodus - Moses, a simple Jewish shepherd, was instructed by G-d to go to the pharaoh and demand the freedom of his people.

Moses' plea of let my people go was ignored. Moses warned the Pharaoh that G-d would send severe punishments to the people of Egypt if the Israelites were not freed. Again the Pharaoh ignored Moses' request of freedom. In response G-d unleashed a series of 10 terrible plagues on the people of Egypt.


1. Blood
2. Frogs
3. Lice (vermin)
4. Wild Beasts(flies)
5. Blight (Cattle Disease)
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Slaying of the First Born
The holiday's name - Pesach, meaning "passing over" or "protection" in Hebrew, is derived from the instructions given to Moses by G-d . In order to encourage the Pharaoh to free the Israelites, G-d intended to kill the first-born of both man and beast. To protect themselves, the Israelites were told to mark their dwellings with lamb's blood so that G-d could identify and "pass over" their homes.

The Pharaoh was unconvinced and refused to free the Jewish slaves.

Until the last plague.

When the Pharaoh finally agreed to freedom, the Israelites left their homes so quickly that there wasn't even time to bake their breads. So they packed the raw dough to take with them on their journey. As they fled through the desert they would quickly bake the dough in the hot sun into hard crackers called matzohs. Today to commemorate this event, Jews eat matzoh in place of bread during Passover.

Though the Jews were now free, their liberation was incomplete. The Pharaoh's army chased them through the desert towards the Red Sea. When the Jews reached the sea they were trapped, since the sea blocked their escape.

It was then that a miracle occurred. The waves of the Red Sea parted and the Israelites were able to cross to the other side. As soon as they all reached the other side the sea closed trapping the Pharaoh's army as the waves closed upon them.

Then as the Israelites watched the waters of the Red Sea sweep away the Pharaoh's army they realized they were finally free.

Passover celebrates this history. The first 2 nights of the 8 day holiday are celebrated with lavish meals called Seders in which the stories and history of Passover are celebrated. Special foods, plates, silverware are all a part of the Seder.

[Sister Havana]

Happy Pesach everyone...

My seder was very small, just me and my parents and my dog.

You know, there's something just not right about being 30 and still having to do the Four Questions!

[DolphinChicaDDD]

I am a little excited because apparently the Passover Fairy left a little package on my car.

I went out to my car on Friday, and there is a box sitting on the hood. Theres no name, the box is open, so I look inside, and there are wonderful little treats for Passover!! Someone's temple had sent it to them in the mail, but that person carelessly left it on the hood of my car, and forgot about it.

I now have motzah ball soup mix, some wonderful little chocolate, caramel, and nut candy, and a box of chocolate covered motzah bread. YUM!! I feel in love with this stuff when I was invited over to a friend's house in high school (I'm not Jewish...not that there is anything wrong it, but a Jew with a tattoo of a Celtic Cross would be a little odd...)

I asked the people in my building, and none of them claimed the box of treats...so now, I'm going to enjoy them!

PS- All the individual boxes are still wrapped, so no one is doing an elaborate plot to assaniate me, lol

[Rudey]

It's not just motzah, seders, and the end of our slavery...that'd be a routine. I guess that's why tonight is different

-Rudey