Student's Times 2014-2018 2017/17/04 sedmé číslo | Page 10

PASSOVER & EASTER Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is a Jewish festival celebrating the exodus from Egypt and the Israelites’ freedom 1 from slavery 2 to the Egyptians. Commemorations today involve a special meal called the Seder, featuring unleavened bread 3 and other food items symbolic of various aspects of the exodus. Passover is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. Passover takes place in the spring, during the Hebrew month of Nisan. In Western countries, Passover is celebrated in early to mid April and is always close to Easter. THE STORY OF PASSOVER: The night of the first Passover was the night of the tenth plague 4 . On that fateful night, God told the Israelites to sacrifice 5 a spotless lamb and mark their doorposts 6 and lintels with its blood. Then, when the Lord passed through the nation, He would “pass over” the households that showed the blood. In a very real way, the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites from death, as it kept the destroyer from entering their homes. The Israelites were saved from the plague, and their firstborn children stayed alive. Passover and the story of the exodus have great significance for Christians also, as Jesus Christ fulfilled 7 the Law, including the symbolism of the Passover. He was killed at Passover time, and the Last Supper was a Passover meal