Rabbi David J. Zucker and Rabbi Bonita E. Taylor on Passover and its message

Experiencing the Message of Freedom and Dignity

Passover celebrates the exodus of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. It is a joyful festival of freedom.

Passover begins with a ritual banquet called a Seder. The word Seder means "order." Here, it refers to the ceremony held on each of the first two nights wherein Jews recall the historical events of the exodus, pray, and partake of symbolic foods in a certain "order." Traditionally, families engage at least one Seder together even if it means traveling distances or staying overnight.

During this Seder, participants consciously link the past and present in a two-way telescoping of history. The redemptive exodus from Egypt is vividly recalled in the present through direct words and ceremonial foods. It is this redemptive act, once accomplished and yet ever renewed, which links the past and present together.

Passover also instructs us to see ourselves as though we had left Egypt. In Hebrew, the word for “Egypt” is connected to the word for a narrow, entrapping place. So, even as we recall leaving Egypt, we are encouraged to contemplate what we would like liberation from today. To assist us, there are many different Seder guides available. This guide is called a Haggadah, literally, the "narrative.”

There are Haggadot (plural) for Jews on every point on the Jewish denominational spectrum in Hebrew, English, and other languages. There are Haggadot for women, historians, art lovers, vegetarians, and children, to name a few. There are Haggadot for individuals recovering from nearly every type of “slavery,” be it racism, substance abuse, domestic abuse, etc. Each Seder guest receives a Haggadah which contains that Seder’s blueprint, including prayers, songs, and instructions.
Explanations for the Seder’s symbolic foods include:

Matza, “bread” without yeast, commemorates the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt (Exodus 12:34 ff).

Salt water commemorates tears shed by the enslaved Israelites.

Parsley, or other greens, commemorates spring.

A roasted shank bone commemorates the sacrificial lamb’s blood placed on Israelite doorposts so the Angel of Death would pass over them (Exodus 12:21 ff). It also commemorates God’s deliverance of the Israelites with a mighty arm (Exodus 13:3).

Bitter herbs, often horseradish, commemorate bitter times.

A roasted egg commemorates the ancient festival offering.

Haroset, a paste-like mixture of chopped fruit, nuts, and spices, commemorates mortar used to build Egyptian storehouses (not pyramids!). There are as many recipes as there are families.

Four Cups of “Wine,” sometimes grape juice or other fruit-of-the-vine, commemorates the 4 verbs in God’s promise to: save, deliver, redeem and take out the people from Egypt (Exodus 6:6-7).

Elijah’s Cup of Wine reminds us that Elijah, the herald of redemption, visits every Seder.

Miriam’s Cup of Spring Water commemorates Miriam’s Well, the source of water in the desert. This is a recent popular addition.

Jewish tradition invites its participants to prepare their homes for the eight days of Passover, to engage a Seder, to eat – and not eat – certain foods, to take time away from travel and work, and to observe part of the last day remembering loved ones. How these invitations are met vary according to where a person is on the Jewish denominational spectrum. Like other Jewish holidays, Passover begins the night before the first day: this year, the first Seder is Saturday night, April 23, 2005.

May this Passover bring closer the realization of its central message that all people know and experience the blessings of freedom and dignity.

Rabbi Bonita E. Taylor, MA, BCC, is the Associate Director of the Center for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for The HealthCare Chaplaincy in Manhattan. She is an ACPE Supervisor and pastoral care educator. She serves on the NAJC’s Board of Directors as Chair of the annual Conference Commission, and also as CPE Chair.

Rabbis Taylor and Zucker together have Chaired (or Co-Chaired) the last seven NAJC annual conferences, including the 2003 EPIC Cognate Chaplains’ conference in Toronto.

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