Passover (in Hebrew, Pesach – which means “skipping” or passing over) is an eight-day festival that begins on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, as described in the Torah. This year, it begins the evening of April 5 and ends the evening of April 13.
The Joint Base San Antonio Public Seder will be at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Military and Family Readiness Center at 8 p.m. April 5. The event is open at no cost to all military, civilians, and their families. RSVPs are required. For more information, email Menachem.m.stern.mil@army.mil.
Passover commemorates the Exodus – the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. The name Passover derives from the miracle that occurred during the 10th Plague when the Angel of Death saw the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts of the houses of Israel; “skipped over” them and did not kill their firstborn. The meal of the Passover Seder commemorates this event.
All leavened bread and grain products are removed from the home and not used during Passover. Instead, unleavened bread, or Matzah, is eaten, recalling the hurriedly baked bread the Israelites ate after their hasty departure from Egypt.
Matzah is a type of cracker made from water and flour only. This dough is not allowed to rise before baking to prevent it from fermenting.
Passover dietary laws restrict both consumption and possession of leavened food, “Chametz,” apply throughout all eight days.
Kosher-for-Passover Meals-Ready-to-Eat, or MREs, are available and can be requested through unit supply channels from their area Troop Issue Subsistence Activity, or TISA.
On the first two nights of Passover, the Exodus from Egypt is recounted at the Seder using the Passover liturgy called a Haggadah.
The Seder (literally meaning order) is full of questions, answers, and unusual practices to arouse the children’s interest and curiosity at the table. For many, the Seders last long into the night with discussions and singing.
Pesach, Passover, Spring Holiday, Exodus, Season of Liberation. The Passover holiday is identified with different names in the Torah. Some of the names are common knowledge; others’ have a much deeper meaning. Here we will discuss the name Zman Cheiruseinu, which means “Season of Our Liberation.”
The Festival of Passover, the Season of Our Liberation, occurs every year, not merely to remind us of the liberation of our ancestors from Egyptian bondage but also to inspire us to strive for a more significant measure of self-liberation from all limitations and distractions that impede us from the free exercise of religion and spirituality in everyday life.
Even in the current situation around the world, where for many it may seem like the opposite of season of liberation, we must place ourselves in the mindset of the season of our liberation when we commemorate our history, relive the redemption, and an opportunity to thank G-d for what we have. (Editor’s note: G-d is used here, as Jews avoid spelling out the Almighty’s name.)
This is the meaning of the highly significant passage in the Haggadah, the special book containing the story of the biblical Exodus as it must be retold at the beginning of the Seder dinner on Passover: “In every generation, a person should see himself as though he personally has been liberated from Mitzrayim [Egypt].”
At the Seder, each person considers themselves as if they were going out of Egypt. We recount the story of our ancestors, Abraham, Issac and Jacob; we follow our people’s plight as they descend into exile and suffer cruel oppression and persecution. We are with them when G-d sends the ten plagues to punish Pharaoh and nation; then we join them as they leave Egypt and cross the Sea of Reeds. We witness the miraculous hand of G-d as the waters part, allowing the Israelites to pass and then return, thundering over the Egyptian legions.
We not only remember the historical event of the Exodus from Egypt. We personally embrace liberty in our lives today.
The Seder is not observed just symbolically. Each of its physical “acts” has profound significance to make the Seder a meaningful and spiritual experience.
Children participate throughout the Seder, for they trigger a significant commandment and highlight the Seder by retelling the story of our Exodus from Egypt, thus ensuring the history of the people of Israel will remain alive from generation to generation.
In this blessed country of freedom and opportunity, the “Season of Our Liberation” spirit pertains more to the inner self than to outside factors that are often beyond our control. Here, thank G-d; there are no external constraints or limitations to getting involved with religious causes. We need to set our goals high enough to meet the challenges and opportunities of these times. If we have a strong will and determination, the possibilities are limitless.
Yet, with this freedom of religious choice, what choices do we make for ourselves? What choices are we making on behalf of our children? Are we raising civil children that may have fantastic knowledge in sports yet limited understanding of G-d? Now that we have our kids at home, are we investing the time to shape their religious beliefs and faith?
Our children will follow our examples rather than our advice. What standards do we set for our children?
The holiday of Passover serves as our annual reminder that we must look within to achieve true liberation. We need to liberate ourselves from our restraints.
In this season of liberation, let us all see ourselves as though we have personally been liberated from the bondage of Egypt. Let us free ourselves from spiritual bondage and choose to strengthen our families and communities. If we resolve to be intentional in the choices we make, we will better ourselves and the lives of our children while moving closer to G-d as well.
I’d like to share with you a story of a Passover Seder in 1945 Europe.
Chaplain Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz served as the Jewish chaplain of the 3rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in an area that included the German cities of Kassel, Fulda and Marburg.
Before Passover, he was called to a staff meeting and shown orders from Headquarters European Theater of Operations, commanded by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, alerting all commanders to enable Jewish personnel to celebrate Passover. The order involved granting leave, providing special food, housing and facilities. Chaplain Abramowitz was asked to implement those orders for the entire 3rd Infantry Division.
As Abramowitz began listing the special foods, wine, and Haggadot that would be needed, he was told that those were already stipulated in Headquarters’ order. Before the staff meeting ended, Chaplain Abramowitz asked permission to invite Jewish survivors of the holocaust to take part in the Seder as well. The non-Jewish commander responded: “Absolutely, and that’s an order.”
The Seder would be held in Kassel. The city was all bombed out. Only one underground bunker, a vast area that could seat hundreds of people, was still operational.
Within a week of that meeting, Passover supplies began to arrive in military trucks. The drivers nicknamed the operation “The Matzah Ball Express.” They brought in Matzah, wine, gefilte fish, and the Haggadot.
Transportation and housing were arranged for 300 Jewish personnel. Chaplain Abramowitz invited about a hundred survivors to join the Seder, asking them if they wanted to sit separately or together with the military men; since language was an obstacle, the survivors opted to sit by themselves.
All day on April 15, 1945 (Passover eve that year), trucks rolled in, bringing Jewish personnel from far-flung German cities.
The Kassel bunker, with its magnificent lighting and decorations, looked like an elegant hotel banquet hall. The brass, led by the general, sat at the head table with several survivors.
Things went smoothly as Kiddush began with the traditional tune, but then as they reached “Shehecheyanu” -- “Blessed are you, G-d … who kept us alive to reach this season,” and everyone broke down in tears.
After some time, the room quieted down, and the commanding general addressed the gathering, welcoming the military men and survivors.
Chaplain Abramowitz then asked one of the survivors to lead the next section of the Haggadah, which was “Hay Lachma Anya”: “This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt.”
The survivor began recounting the afflictions he and his fellow survivors suffered under the Nazis. He concluded by expressing his gratitude at being able to celebrate this first Seder after five indescribable years. Finishing his remarks, he toasted the American general and embraced him.
The response was spontaneous. Soldiers walked over to the survivors’ tables, embracing them.
Abramowitz recounted it was at that point that he lost control of his orderly Seder. He couldn’t get the guests to quiet down and continue with the Seder. They had reached the song, “Avadim hayeenu l’epharaoh be’mitsrayim – “We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.” However, they did not want to sing about being slaves; they did not want to sing about a Pharaoh. They had endured enough of Pharaoh.
As Abramowitz tried to describe the Four Sons, one of the survivors stood up and said: “There’s no evil son here tonight! Anyone who identifies as a Jew after what the Jewish people have been through; is righteous. Today there are only righteous Jews!”
Everyone started clapping and singing. Overcoming the language and cultural barriers, the participants sang, talked, and enjoyed one another like long-lost relatives. They continued toasting, talking with one another, and enjoying each other, following the Haggadah at their own pace for the rest of the Seder.
The discerning non-Jewish general realized that Chaplain Abramowitz was dejected at not conducting a “proper,” orderly Seder with the coordinated Haggadah readings.
The general approached Chaplain Abramowitz, put one arm over his shoulder and the other arm over the rabbi’s chest. Then he said: “Son, I don’t know much about the Jewish faith or Passover, but one thing I do know. You never conducted a better Seder before, and you’ll never conduct a better Seder in the future.”
The general was right. The survivor was also right. There are no wicked sons. Today, any Jew who identifies as a Jew after all the Jewish people have been through for 2,000 years is a righteous Jew.
May we all merit to celebrate together in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim!