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What are the various Hebrew names for the holiday of Passover?

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

  

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Passover has three names:

1. The Holiday of Matzot. This is the primary name used by the Torah to describe the holiday.

2. The Season of our Freedom. This is how the holiday is called in the special prayers and Kiddush for Passover.

3. Pesach. Pesach means to “skip” or “leap,” referring to the fact that the houses of the Jews were skipped over while the firstborn of Egypt were killed. This is how Jews refer to the holiday.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev pointed out that G-d refers to the holiday in a way that praises the Jewish people who followed Him into a desert trusting that He would provide for them. All they had were a couple of crackers made from dough that did not have time to rise: matzot. And yet they went.
The famous Chassidic Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev pointed out that G-d refers to the holiday in a way that praises the Jewish people who followed Him into a desert trusting that He would provide for them. All they had were a couple of crackers made from dough that did not have time to rise: matzot. And yet they went.

By contrast, the Jewish people refer to the holiday in a way that praises G-d for sparing them during the plague of the firstborn.

The three names also represent a progression:

1. First thing is you have to become egoless like a Matzah—flat and unbloated.

2. This way you can be truly free in this Season of Freedom, since you’re no longer bogged down by your limitations.

3. At that point to you can make a radical Leap—Pesach—a quantum change that would normally be impossible.1

Footnotes

  • 1. Source: Likutei Sichot 17:71ff.

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COMMENTS

names of pesach

Posted by: Gitty's Daughter on Apr 10, 2006

i think chag haviv - holiday of spring - is also one..

Editor's Comment

"Aviv" means springtime. The Torah commands us to schedule the holiday of Passover during the springtime, but never explicitly dubs the holiday as the "Chag HaAviv." This poetic name has caught on, though, in Modern Hebrew.
Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Matzah
(pl. Matzot). Unleavened bread which is eaten on Passover, especially at the Passover Seder (feast), commemorating the Matzah which the Jews ate upon leaving Egypt. It consists of only flour and water and resembles a wheat cracker.
Passover
A Biblically mandated early-spring festival celebrating the Jewish exodus from Egypt in the year 1312 BCE.
Chassidic
(Pl.: Chassidim; Adj.: Chassidic) A follower of the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), the founder of "Chassidut." Chassidut emphasizes serving G-d with sincerity and joy, and the importance of connecting to a Rebbe (saintly mentor).
Rebbe
A Chassidic master. A saintly person who inspires followers to increase their spiritual awareness.
Kiddush
Prayer recited at the beginning of the Sabbath or Holiday meal--both the evening and afternoon meals. This prayer, acknowledging the sanctity of the day, is recited over a cup of wine or grape juice.
Matzot
(Pl.: Matzot) Unleavened bread which is eaten on Passover, especially at the Passover Seder (feast), commemorating the Matzah which the Jews ate upon leaving Egypt. It consists of only flour and water and resembles a wheat cracker.
Pesach
Passover. A Biblically mandated early-spring festival celebrating the Jewish exodus from Egypt in the year 1312 BCE.
Levi
1. Name of Patriarch Jacob's third son. 2. A Levite -- a Jew who is a patrilineal descendant of Levi. Levites had special duties in the Holy Temple, and are still accorded special respect.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.