Passover – The Seder and The Reading of the Haggadah

Well, Passover and the reading of the Haggadah have to do with the exodus of the Jewish slaves from Egypt escaping the Pharao’s army through the red sea, and Moses giving them the “Ten Commandments”, God’s law that will treat them all equal under the law. This story is universally known by people of all cultures and religions, Charlton Heston made a wonderful movie “The Ten Commandments” which is part of our family tradition, even Disney made an animated movie about it called “Prince of Egypt”.

The Exodus supposedly happened around the year 1250 BC–and became the foundation that united the Semite people under the nation of Israel, the chosen people.

1250 BC [estimated ] During Passover, God sent the tenth and final plague to the Egyptian people and that was the death of their first born. The Jewish people used the blood of a lamb to mark their homes so that the plague will “pass-over” their homes and save them from the plague.

100 AD [estimated ] Jesus, who was a Jewish rabbi celebrating Passover with his twelve disciples and at the end of the supper, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to his Apostles, saying:
“Take, eat” (Matt. 26:26). “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
In a similar manner he took the cup of wine, traditionally diluted with water, said a blessing of thanks for it, and passed it to those gathered about him, saying: “This cup [chalice] is the new testament in my blood,” “which is shed … for the remission of sins.” Do this in remembrance of me.” “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (Luke 22:20; Matt. 26:28; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:26).

100 AD [estimated ] Joseph of Arimathea, a relative of Jesus, had given up his tomb for the burial of Jesus. He was imprisoned and Jesus appeared to him holding the chalice, asking him to drink from it, and told him he will be set free.

1200 AD [estimated ] French poet, Robert de Boron, told a version of the story of the grail in the 13^th century, connecting the legendary utopia of Camelot and the quest for the Holy Grail by its various knights.
Apparently Joseph of Arimathea had kept the chalice in his home, and when he was set free he took “The Holy Grail” [chalice] being the cup Jesus drank from at the Last Supper to  Glastonbury in England where he used to travel often to the tin mines of Cornwall as part of the tin trade. By all accounts, there actually was a strong Jewish community in the west of England at that time, and many of the tin miners may have been Jewish settlers who helped Joseph and his son.  By the 14th century, it was popularly believed that Glastonbury Abbey had been founded by the biblical figure of Joseph.

In conclusion, Passover is a story of faith, community, law, and freedom that is the foundation for Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Christians have given it the name of “Maundy Thursday” referring to the mandate that Jesus gave during the Passover celebration, it involves a ceremony of washing the feet of the poor on this day.

I hope you find many reasons to celebrate Passover with your family, watch a movie, eat the foods Jewish people eat during Passover, and maybe dance    “Hava Nagila dance“.