The Passover holiday has four Hebrew names: Hag Ha Pesach (The holiday of the paschal sacrifice), Hag Ha Matzot (the holiday of Matza), Hag Ha Herut (the holiday of freedom) and Hag Ha Aviv (the holiday of Spring). Each of these names teaches us a lesson about the meaning and messages of Passover.
Hag Ha Pesach links us to our past and Jewish tradition by reminding us when the Temple stood in Jerusalem and all Israel made the pilgrimage to offer sacrifice on Passover.
Hag Ha Matzot reminds us of our obligation to the poor and less fortunate. In the Haggadah it is called ha lachmah anyah, the bread of poverty, and we are required to say, “Let all who are hungry come and eat,” reminding us of our moral obligation to help those who struggle and are in financial need and lack enough to eat.
Hag Ha Herut reminds us that we believe in a God who cares for the oppressed and expects us to participate in the work to ensure that all human beings are free.
Hag Ha Aviv is a message of hope, of the rebirth of life that comes with Spring after the long dormancy of Winter.
These four themes all combine during Passover, demanding a commitment to Jewish tradition, to alleviating suffering, to working for freedom and dignity for all human beings, and to always remain hopeful… even in the darkest times.
This Pesach, as we shelter in our homes, let’s keep these messages in our hearts and on our lips and then carry them out with us into the world to make things better than they were before this crisis.
Exodus 33:12-34:26 – Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Hol Ha Mo’eid Pesach, Saturday, April 11, 2020
April 10, 2020 by Dean Kertesz •
The Passover holiday has four Hebrew names: Hag Ha Pesach (The holiday of the paschal sacrifice), Hag Ha Matzot (the holiday of Matza), Hag Ha Herut (the holiday of freedom) and Hag Ha Aviv (the holiday of Spring). Each of these names teaches us a lesson about the meaning and messages of Passover.
Hag Ha Pesach links us to our past and Jewish tradition by reminding us when the Temple stood in Jerusalem and all Israel made the pilgrimage to offer sacrifice on Passover.
Hag Ha Matzot reminds us of our obligation to the poor and less fortunate. In the Haggadah it is called ha lachmah anyah, the bread of poverty, and we are required to say, “Let all who are hungry come and eat,” reminding us of our moral obligation to help those who struggle and are in financial need and lack enough to eat.
Hag Ha Herut reminds us that we believe in a God who cares for the oppressed and expects us to participate in the work to ensure that all human beings are free.
Hag Ha Aviv is a message of hope, of the rebirth of life that comes with Spring after the long dormancy of Winter.
These four themes all combine during Passover, demanding a commitment to Jewish tradition, to alleviating suffering, to working for freedom and dignity for all human beings, and to always remain hopeful… even in the darkest times.
This Pesach, as we shelter in our homes, let’s keep these messages in our hearts and on our lips and then carry them out with us into the world to make things better than they were before this crisis.