Monday, Nissan 9, 5785 / April 7, 2025

The holiday of Pesach (Passover) begins this Saturday night, April 12.

The holiday of Pesach has a few names. The two common names for this holiday are: Chag HaPesach (the holiday of Pesach) and Chag HaMatzot (the holiday of Matzot). 

Reason: “Pesach” means to “Pass over.” This name came about because when G-d brought the plague of the First-born on the Egyptians and the eldest of every Egyptian household was killed, He skipped over the Jewish homes, and they were spared. Therefore, we call the holiday Pesach.

Pesach is also a combination of two words, “Peh”(mouth)“Sach”(to speak). On Pesach there is a mitzvah to SPEAK and TELL the story of Pesach (Passover). Although we have to remember the Exodus each day, on Pesach there is a special mitzvah to TELL our children the story of Pesach.

The name “Chag HaMatzot” - “Holiday of Matzot” is because of the fact that when G-d told the Jewish people that He will take them out of Egypt into the wilderness, they had such great faith in G-d that they didn’t even prepare enough food for the way. They took the dough they had, placed it on their shoulders and left Egypt. The sun baked the dough into matzah. Thus, Chag HaMatzot is an expression of their faith in G-d that He will provide all their needs.

We find something very interesting. In the Torah the holiday is called, “Chag HaMatzot.  However, we commonlycall this holiday, “Pesach.”

Q.   Why does the Torah call it, The Holiday of Matzot and we call it, The Holiday of Pesach?

A.   As mentioned before, the name “Pesach” tells of G-d’s compassion for the Jewish people that HE skipped over the Jewish homes and spared them from the plague of the First-born. However, the name “Matzot” is about the virtue of the Jewish people that they had such great trust in G-d.

G-d calls the holiday “Chag HaMatzot” to stress the wonderful quality of the Jewish people that they had great faith in G-d.  But, we call the holiday “Pesach” to glorify G-d for His passing over our homes and sparing the Jewish people from the plague.

Q.    One of the items on the Seder Plate is “charoses.”  Before eating the bitter herbs (maror), we dip it in the charoses.  The bitter herbs symbolize the hard labor and bitterness Jews suffered in Egypt.  What is the symbolic meaning of the charoses? Also, what is the meaning of the name charoses?

A.    Charoses is a combination of fruits, nuts and wine mixed together and looks like mortar or clay.  This symbolizes the hard labor, which Jews endured in Egypt when they were forced to make the bricks to build the cities of Pisom and Ramses.  “Charoses” comes from the word, “cheres” which means “clay.”  The maror dipped in the charoses reminds us of the bitterness in Egypt which was a result of their being forced to produce the bricks, mortar, and clay.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW