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