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What Is The Pesach?
- Rachel Wilson
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Pesach (Passover) in Hebrew, is a significant Jewish holiday marking the Israelites' emancipation from slavery in Egypt. This spring festival is celebrated with a special meal known as a Seder, where the Exodus story is recounted from the Haggadah. The holiday also involves refraining from leavened foods (chametz) and consuming unleavened bread called matzah.
What Is Matzah?
Matzah is a crisp, flat, unleavened bread made from flour and water, which must be baked before the dough has a chance to rise. It is the only type of "bread" that Jews are permitted to eat during Pesach and it must be prepared specifically for Passover, under rabbinical supervision. Matzah, both the simplest and most complex of kosher products, is made from just two basic ingredients – flour and water. During Pesach, Jews avoid all wheat-based products except for matzah, which is eaten at the Seder in fulfillment of a Biblical commandment and throughout the holiday. Eating Matzah on Pesach commemorates the unleavened bread consumed by the Jews when they left Egypt in such haste that there was no time for the dough to rise. There are numerous concepts associated with the unique relationship between Matzah and Chametz during Pesach.
What Do Jews & Christians Do On Pesach?
For Hebrews, Pesach can be categorized into five main aspects.
Commemoration of the Exodus: Pesach honors the narrative of the Israelites' transition from slavery in Egypt to freedom, led by Moshe (Moses) and Elohim.
Seder: A ritual meal is conducted on the first two nights of Pesach, during which the Shemot/Exodus story is narrated.
Haggadah: The Haggadah is a text containing the story and prayers used during the Seder to recount the Shemot/Exodus.
Matzah: Unleavened bread (matzah) is an essential element of Pesach, symbolizing the urgency of the Israelites' exit from Egypt.
Chametz: During Pesach, observant Jews avoid eating leavened foods such as bread cakes and cereals.
For the Jewish community, Passover is deeply rooted in history and tradition. It commemorates the liberation from slavery in Egypt and is a time for reflection, gratitude, and celebration. Pesach also reminds Jews of the poverty and hardships their ancestors faced, prompting them to support those currently experiencing poverty and oppression.
In the Passover narrative, as part of their liberation, the Jewish people were instructed to eat matzah or unleavened bread, during the holiday. Matzah is a simple food made from flour and water without yeast or leavening agents. It symbolizes the basic sustenance the Jewish slaves had during their enslavement and serves as a reminder of their poverty and struggles.
Today, many Jewish families and communities continue the tradition of eating matzah during Pesach. Additionally, Pesach is a time when Jews strive to aid those currently facing poverty and oppression. Thus, Pesach encourages action towards justice and equality for all. There are numerous ways that Jews and others can combat poverty and oppression during Passover and throughout the year. The year-round Kindness Initiative is dedicated to raising awareness within our community about Jewish members experiencing financial instability. Our primary mission is to help these individuals and families access the resources they need.
For Christians, Passover marks the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt and is considered a prefiguration of Yeshua Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of Elohim. It serves as a reminder of Elohim's deliverance and faithfulness, and for some, it is also a time to contemplate the Last Supper, where Jesus and his disciples observed Passover.
✅ Historical Significance: Passover has its roots in the Torah (Old Testament), specifically in the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. It celebrates Elohim's power and deliverance, highlighted by the Passover Seder meal. The Seder is the traditional Passover meal that involves reading, drinking four cups of wine, storytelling, eating special foods, singing, and other Passover customs.
✅ Foreshadowing Yeshua: For Christians, Passover is more than a historical occurrence; it signifies the ultimate sacrifice of Yeshua Christ. Jesus is often recognized as the "Passover Lamb" who sacrificed Himself for the forgiveness of sins, reflecting the lamb offered by the Israelites.
✅ The Last Supper: The Last Supper, where Jesus observed Passover with his disciples, holds great importance for Christians. During this meal, Yeshua established the Eucharist (Holy Communion), using bread and wine to symbolize His body and blood.
✅ Reflection and Remembrance: Passover can be a moment for Christians to reflect on Elohim's faithfulness and Their continuous work of redemption and liberation in their lives. It is also a time to remember the suffering and sacrifice Yeshua made at Calvary.
✅ Observance: Some Christians actively engage in Passover celebrations, while others incorporate Passover's themes of deliverance and sacrifice into their spiritual practices.
Whether you are Hebrew and do not claim Yeshua Christ as your King, a Gentile redeemed by the blood of Yeshua Christ or a Hebrew who has accepted the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) and Yeshua Christ as your King, everyone must understand the significance Elohim gave Lent, Pesach/Passover and the Seder meal. It is should be the one event in our history that causes us all to stop, reflect and remember the great deeds and miracles Elohim performed in Egypt as well as what every item in the Seder represents. Going beyond this, groups will divide over Christ. If you are Jewish, Yeshua is not your King and your Messiah has yet to come. If you are Christian and a Jew who accepts the Brit Chadasha, you attest that the Gospel writings and the testimony of Yeshua Christ is true, that the King has come and will come again.
Whatever side of the fence you are none, please be respectful and show yirah and kivod for Elohim and further honor that Jewish and Christian traditions and Book obligations revolving around Pesach/Passover is a scared moment and our differences shouldn't dictate how we behave towards each other. If anything, we should set aside differences and use Holy Week as a time to reflect, honor and remember the goodness of Elohim.
Yirah: While the word יראה yirah means to "fear" or "be in awe" in English, it means to "refer to a deep respect" and "reverence" for Elohim or a feeling of awe and wonder in the face of something magnificent.
Kivod: The word כבוד kavod means "honor", "respect", "glory" or "weight". It can refer to showing deference to someone, recognizing their importance or the weighty impact of Elohim's glory.
© Unaligned Church 2025
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