Peasch (Passover) (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

What is the festival of Pesach?

• Pesach celebrates the release of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt and is also known as Passover

• The story of Passover is found in the book of Exodus (chapter 12) in the Torah

  • G-d commanded that Jews celebrate this festival every year as a mark of freedom:

• It is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Freedom, with prayers said each year for those who are not free

• Jews remember how the Israelites left slavery when Moses led them out of Egypt more than 3,000 years ago

• Moses went to ask the Pharaoh to release the Israelites many times, but each time, he refused

• Moses warned the Pharaoh that G-d would send ten plagues to Egypt if he did not let them go

  • The ten plagues were:

    • Water turning to blood

    • Frogs

    • Gnats

    • Flies

    • Ill livestock

    • Unhealable boils

    • Hail and fire

    • Locusts

    • Darkness

    • Death of firstborn children

The Ten Plague

• During the final plague, G-d is said to have told Moses to tell the Israelites to paint lambs’ blood on their doorposts

  • This would ensure that the angel of death knew that Jewish people lived in those houses

  • The angel of death would then pass over those houses and not kill the firstborn child

  • This is where the name Passover comes from

  • During the last plague, even the Pharaoh’s son was killed

• The Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to take the Israelites out of Egypt immediately

  • After more than 200 years of enslavement, the Jewish people were free

What is the significance of the Seder?

• During Pesach, rituals and practices are performed to celebrate the release of Jews from slavery and to remember the hardship they endured

• In preparation for Pesach, Jews remove all grain products (called chametz) from their houses 

  • Grain is not allowed to be eaten during the festival 

  • Leavened goods (containing yeast), such as bread and beer, are also removed from the house 

    • Jews thoroughly clean their homes to remove any trace of these items

  • This is done to remember that the Israelites did not have time to allow their bread to rise before they left Egypt

• Candles are lit to welcome Pesach

• The family goes to the synagogue, where special prayers are recited and passages from the Torah are read

• A special meal called the Seder meal is held

The Seder meal

• There are many symbolic foods on the table for the Seder meal:

  • A lamb bone, which symbolises the lamb that was sacrificed

  • A boiled egg, which is a symbol of new life

  • A green vegetable dipped in salt water to symbolise the tears of the Jews in slavery

  • Bitter herbs, symbolising the bitterness of slavery

  • Charoset, a paste of apples, walnuts and wine, which represents the mortar the slaves used when being forced to build

  • Unleavened bread (matzah), as a reminder that the Israelites did not even have time to allow their bread to rise

• Four glasses of wine are drunk to symbolise joy, and one glass of wine is left for the Prophet Elijah, who will return to announce the coming of the Messiah

  • Wine is also a symbol of the lambs’ blood painted onto the doorposts to save Jewish children from the final plague

• The foods on the Seder plate each symbolise a part of the Exodus story, which is retold during the meal using a ritual book called the Haggadah

The religious reasons for observing Pesach

• There are many religious reasons why Jews observe Pesach

• The festival remembers the Exodus of Jews 

  • Jews observe Pesach to remember how G-d delivered them from slavery

  • The Torah commands Jews to teach each generation about this event

• Pesach is also a way of thanking G-d for saving the Israelites

  • It reminds Jews of G-d’s power, mercy and faithfulness to his covenant

• Pesach is an opportunity to follow G-d’s commandments

  • The Torah commands Jews to observe Pesach with specific rituals (for example, eating matzah and avoiding chametz)

    • Observing the festival shows obedience to G-d’s law

• The Seder meal and storytelling allow Jews to connect to their history

  • It reinforces a shared identity as G-d’s chosen people who are part of his covenant

• The Pesach Seder helps teach the next generation about Jewish beliefs, history and values

  • The Haggadah guides the Seder meal with stories, prayers and symbolic foods

The social reasons for observing Pesach

• Pesach also has important social and community aspects

  • These help strengthen family, community and Jewish identity

• Some of the social reasons for observing Pesach include:

  • Participating in a family-centred ritual through the Seder meal, which often includes extended family and guests

  • Encouraging family bonding and the passing down of traditions and stories

  • Educating the next generation

    • The Seder is designed to teach children about the Exodus

    • This also includes asking the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah) and child-friendly storytelling

• This creates a shared social and religious identity

• Reinforcing community identity for Jewish people

  • Celebrating Pesach helps Jews feel part of a global community, where everyone observes the same rituals

• There are also communal traditions in the preparation of the event

  • The clearing out of chametz (leavened products) is often a communal or family activity

• Many communities host group Seders, especially for those who are alone or in need

  • Jews are encouraged to welcome guests to their Seder, especially those who are poor or lonely

  • The event promotes hospitality, generosity and inclusiveness

Different ways Pesach is observed within Judaism

• All Jewish traditions commemorate the Exodus, but the method of observance reflects different interpretations of Jewish law and modern values

Orthodox Judaism and Pesach

• Within Orthodox Judaism, the Torah and Halakhah (Jewish law) are strictly followed

  • During Pesach, all chametz (leavened food) are avoided completely

  • Rituals also include cleaning the home thoroughly and changing kitchenware

  • Matzah (leavened bread) is eaten for all eight days (seven in Israel)

  • The Seder meal is traditional and detailed, including all of the symbolic foods and readings from the full Haggadah

  • Men often wear a kippah and tallit, and services are conducted mostly in Hebrew

  • Orthodox Jews have two Seder meals on the first two nights of the holiday

Reform Judaism and Pesach

• Within Reform Judaism, there is more flexibility in observance, with the focus on meaning rather than strict ritual

  • Reform Jews still avoid chametz, but some families may be less strict, allowing certain products if they are not obviously leavened

  • They often have only one Seder instead of two, even outside Israel

  • The Seder may include modern readings, gender-inclusive language and a focus on social justice

  • A kippah and tallit may be worn by both genders, but this is usually optional

  • Services are often in English with Hebrew included, and prayers may be shortened