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Shalom friends,
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On the evening of the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nisan (ט"ו בְּנִיסָן), which falls this year on April 8th , we will begin to celebrate Passover (פֶּסַח) . This holiday commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt after long years of slavery, as described in the book of Exodus in the Torah.
In this issue, we'll learn about Passover through the ritual feast held on the first night of Passover (and in the Diaspora, on the second night as well). This night is called Leyl Haseder (לֵיל הַסֵּדֶר) the word סֵדֶר meaning order or arrangement. In this night, families and friends gather around the table to read the Haggadah (הַגָּדָה). Haggadah means "telling" and the book called Haggadah fulfills
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the scriptural commandment to "tell your son" (וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ, vehigadeta levinxa) about the Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt. As the Haggadah serves as an organized guide, the Seder is performed in much the same way all over the world.
The Seder customs include drinking four cups of wine, eating matsah (מַצָּה, unleavened bread) and other symbolic foods placed on the Passover Seder Plate. During the Seder, we study the meaning of the different passages and sing Passover songs. As the significance of the Seder is to teach the younger generation about the Exodus, there are different parts that help keep this challenging crowd interested and alert: There are four questions that the children ask during the Seder and the adults answer, and there is a Passover version of a treasure hunt with an expectation for reward, that keeps all the children enthusiastic throughout the Seder.
If you would like to read more about Passover, you can read last year's Passover Newsletter.
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חַג שָׂמֵחַ וְכָשֵׁר!
Xag Same'ax ve'kasher!
Happy and Kosher Holiday!
Shira Cohen-Regev
The HebrewOnline Team
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The commandments and rituals of the "seder" night (Leyl Haseder) are performed in a specific order. In every Haggadah booklet we find the traditional sequence of fifteen stages of the Seder. In many families, the reading of the Haggadah begins with singing this sequence. You may listen to this singing in modern Israeli tunes and in renditions from various Jewish traditions.
קַדֵּשׁ (Kadesh, bless)
The Seder begins with the recitation of "Kiddush", a blessing over the wine in honor of the holiday. After the wine is drunk, the second cup of wine is poured.
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וּרְחַץ (Urxats, and wash)
in preparation of eating the Karpas (on the next stage), hands are washed without reciting a blessing.
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כַּרְפַּס (Karpas)
Eating a vegetable (usually parsley) dipped in salt-water. The vegetable symbolizes the lowly origins of the Jewish people whereas the salt water symbolizes the tears shed as a result of slavery.
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יַחַץ (Yaxats, breaking)
On the Seder table there is a plate with three "Matsahs". In the "Yaxats" stage, the middle Matsa is broken – one half is returned to the plate, and the other part is set aside for the later "treasure hunt" as the "afikoman" (see below).
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מַגִּיד (Magid, telling)
Retelling the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Passover.
This section begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions (אַרְבַּע הַקֻּשְׁיוֹת, arba hakushiyot) to clarify how this night is different from all other nights (מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת?, ma nishtana halayla haze mikol haleylot? ). You may listen to Ma Nishtana here and learn how to sing it here.
The "Magid" is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of people known as the four sons:
1. חָכָם (xaxam, wise) – wants to know the technical details.
2. רָשָׁע (rasha, wicked) – excludes himself (and learns the disadvantages of doing so).
3. תַּם (tam, simple) – needs to know the basics.
4. שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאֹול (she'eino yode'a lish'ol, unable to ask) – doesn't even know enough to know what he needs to know.
At the end of the Magid section, a blessing is recited over the second cup of wine and it is drunk.
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רָחֲצָה (Raxtsa, washing)
Washing of the hands a second time with a blessing, in preparation for eating the matsah.
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מוֹצִיא (Motsi, produce)
Reciting the blessing over Grain Products. This blessing in general is recited before eating bread or grain products. During the Seder, it is recited over the matsah.
מַצָּה (Matsah, unleavened bread)
A specific blessing for eating Matsah is recited, and a bit of matsah is eaten.
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מָרוֹר (Maror, bitter herbs)
A bitter vegetable (usually raw horseradish or lettuce) symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. A blessing is recited over the Maror. The Maror is eaten with Xaroset (חֲרֹסֶת, a sweet mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine) that resembles the mortar used by the Israelites as slaves who built the Pyramids in Egypt.
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כּוֹרֵךְ (Korex, binding)
A sandwich of bitter herbs and Xaroset in between two pieces of Matsah is eaten.
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שֻׁלְחָן עוֹרֵךְ (Shulxan Orex, setting the table)
Eating the festive meal.
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צָפוּן (Tsafun, hidden)
As a piece of Matsah was set aside during the יַחַץ section, it is to be found at the צָפוּן. This Matsah piece is called Afikoman (אֲפִיקוֹמָן). and typically is hidden by a grown up for children to find after the meal. It is customary that the Seder cannot be completed without eating the Afikoman, and therefore the finder of the Afikoman is in bargaining position for a satisfying reward. There are numerous traditions of this "game", but the main idea is to keep the children awake and attentive throughout the pre-meal proceedings, waiting for this part.
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בָּרֵךְ (Barex, grace-after-meals)
The third cup of wine is poured, and grace-after-meals is recited. At the end, a blessing is said over the third cup and it is drunk. The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah (אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא, Eliyahu haNavi), who is supposed to come on Passover. The door is opened for a while to let Elijah in.
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הַלֵּל (Halel, praises)
Several psalms are recited and a blessing is recited over the last cup of wine, which is in turn drunk.
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נִרְצָה (Nirtsa, accepted)
Concluding the Seder by praying that G-d should accept our service. The Seder is completed with a wish that next year, we may celebrate Passover in Jerusalem. This stresses the idea of Jerusalem as a major unifying center for the Jewish people. This wish is followed by various hymns and stories.
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מַצִּיָּה (Matsiya)
Matsah Brei
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This fried matsah dish is of Ashkenazi Jewish origins and made from matsah fried with eggs. Numerous recipes exist for this dish. Typically the dry matsah is briefly softened in hot water or milk, broken into pieces, mixed with eggs, and pan-fried. It may be formed into a cake, or broken up and cooked like scrambled eggs. It can be salty, sweet, or plain. It may be topped with apple sauce, maple syrup, jam, cheese, sugar, or salt and pepper. Here is one version of a Matsah Brei.
For each person use:
1 Matsah (מַצָּה)
1 medium egg (בֵּיצָה)
Break matsos in a large bowl, pour water over them. After a couple of minutes, drain water, squeeze surplus water out, add the eggs and mix well.
Melt a little butter or margarine or oil in a frying pan, add the mixture all at once (or in small chunks like latkes) and flatten out. Flip it when it starts getting crusty underneath. Cook through until well done but still soft.
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Serve immediately with your favorite topping.
בְּתֵאָבוֹן!
Bete'avon!
Bon appetit!
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See if you can find all of the Passover-related words in the puzzle below:
אֲבִיבָה, אֲפִיקוֹמָן, בֵּיצָה, בָּרֵךְ, בְּתֵאָבוֹן, הַגָּדָה, הַלֵּל, חָכָם, חֲרֹסֶת, יַחַץ, כּוֹרֵךְ, כַּרְפַּס, לֵיל הַסֵּדֶר, מוֹצִיא, מַצָּה, מַצִּיָּה, מָרוֹר, נִיסָן, נִרְצָה , פֶּסַח, צָפוּן , קַדֵּשׁ , רָשָׁע, שֻׁלְחַן עוֹרֵךְ, תַּם
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Print...
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| נִיסָן |
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Name:
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Nisan
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Gender:
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Male
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Time of Appearance:
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The Middle Ages Till The 19th Century
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Meaning:
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Nisan is the name of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. In early times it was the first month of the calendar. Also called "the month of spring". Passover is celebrated during this month.
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Category:
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Meteorology and Calendar Names
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| אֲבִיבָה |
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Name:
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Aviva
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Gender:
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Female
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Time of Appearance:
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The Modern Era
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Meaning:
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The name is derived from the word אביב (aviv, "spring").
Passover is also called חג האביב (the "Festival of Spring.")
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Category:
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Meteorology and Calendar Names
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| HebrewOnline Newsletter - Readers' Feedback |
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HELLO.THANKS FOR SENDING ME HEBREW ONLINE NEWSLETTER .THE NEWSLETTERS ARE VERY INTERESTING
toda raba,sjalom,
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Shalom,
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Again, thanks. Peace to Israel!
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lehitraot
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| Hebrew letters and Transcription |
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Transliteration rules used on the newsletters
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