PESACH
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:26 pm
• Pesach •
Pronunciation: pe-sahk • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Passover, a Jewish holiday beginning on the 15th of Nisan (the night of April 23 in 2005, since Jewish days begin at sundown) and traditionally continuing for eight days, commemorating the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt.
Notes: The highlight of the celebration of Pesach is the Seder, a supper held on the first (or first two) day(s) of Pesach. All of the food has meaning: only unleavened matzah bread is eaten and green vegetables are dipped in a vinegar or salty water to symbolize the suffering of the Jews crossing the desert. Children recite passages and answer questions showing that they have learned the significance of Pesach that they will pass on to their children.
In Play: The Haggadah, the story of the Exodus from which everyone at the table reads, plays a central role at the Seder. The story of the Exodus is told four ways, each emphasizing a different aspect of the Exodus and its importance for the Jewish people. According to the synoptic gospels, the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Last Supper that Jesus attended was a traditional Seder. (The Book of John places it the day before the Seder, on the day when the sacrificial lamb was slaughtered.)
Word History: Today's Good Word is an English attempt at Hebrew pesah "Passover" from the verb pasah "to pass over". (What else?) Pasch "Passover, Easter" is the Aramaic variant of the same Semitic root. It is the origin of the word for Easter in most European languages: French Pâques, Spanish Pascua, Italian Pasqua, Swedish Påsk, and Russian Paskha. Those of us here at The Lexiteria and the Alpha Dictionary Site hope the homes of all our Jewish friends are filled with peace and love during this Pesach season.
Pronunciation: pe-sahk • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Passover, a Jewish holiday beginning on the 15th of Nisan (the night of April 23 in 2005, since Jewish days begin at sundown) and traditionally continuing for eight days, commemorating the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt.
Notes: The highlight of the celebration of Pesach is the Seder, a supper held on the first (or first two) day(s) of Pesach. All of the food has meaning: only unleavened matzah bread is eaten and green vegetables are dipped in a vinegar or salty water to symbolize the suffering of the Jews crossing the desert. Children recite passages and answer questions showing that they have learned the significance of Pesach that they will pass on to their children.
In Play: The Haggadah, the story of the Exodus from which everyone at the table reads, plays a central role at the Seder. The story of the Exodus is told four ways, each emphasizing a different aspect of the Exodus and its importance for the Jewish people. According to the synoptic gospels, the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Last Supper that Jesus attended was a traditional Seder. (The Book of John places it the day before the Seder, on the day when the sacrificial lamb was slaughtered.)
Word History: Today's Good Word is an English attempt at Hebrew pesah "Passover" from the verb pasah "to pass over". (What else?) Pasch "Passover, Easter" is the Aramaic variant of the same Semitic root. It is the origin of the word for Easter in most European languages: French Pâques, Spanish Pascua, Italian Pasqua, Swedish Påsk, and Russian Paskha. Those of us here at The Lexiteria and the Alpha Dictionary Site hope the homes of all our Jewish friends are filled with peace and love during this Pesach season.
