The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1925-04-02
THE FEAST OF PASSOVER

An elaborate home ceremony, known
as the Scdcr, will usher in the Jewish
Passover Wednesday evening at sun
set. The festival is one of cycle Of
three which are designated in the Bible
rs Pilgrim Festivals" on which all
males were In ancient times duty bound
TO make pilgrimage to the Holy City.
According to the Bible, Passover Is to
he kept for seven days, but orthodox
Jews in the lands of the diaspora oh
serve It for eight days. The Jews of
Palestine, however, strictly follow the
ordinance of the Bible.
In ancient times Passover had an
agricultural significance, marking the
very beginning of the harvest season.
Since post-cXilic days, however, Pass
over has largely lost its agricultural
meaning. and it has come 10 be primar-
lily the great Festival of Freedom, com
mcmOratiHG that great event in Israel's
history when 1t cast OF the chains of
Egyptian slavery and became free
and independent people. Passover then
may well he spoken Of rs Israel's birth
day.
1t is this story of liberation which is
told in great detail at the Scder serv-
ice. \ special feast is served at the
home in which all the members and
friends Of the family participate.
Strangers too. are invited, since it is
an ancient Jewish tradition that none
shall suffer want ON this great night.
The feast Is rich in symbolisms, all of
family from special ritual prepared
for that eve. known as the "Haggadah."
In this ritual the entire story of the
ancient liberation is explained in an in
tercsting manner.
The Book of Exodus lays stress upon
the necessity of relating the story of
the Exodus To the children. This idea
is carefully carried out in the IIag-
gadab which has been designed with
the purpose Of interesting the children
in the Sedcr service At the beginning
of the ceremony the youngest son asks
four traditional questions relative to
the mode of observance of the festival.
The rest Of the Haggadah is practically
an answer to these four questions. This
is done in a quaint and charming man
ncr, the ritual being filled with anec-
dotcs and fanciful tales.
The jew has always been very scru-
pulous about the observance of Pass
over, since this festival has brought
home TO him the unique purpose of his
distinctive existence. When Moses
sought the liberation of the Israelitcs
he, speaking in the name of God, pro-
claimed the Pharaoh: Let My people
20 that they may serve Me" Israel
was to cease being Il servant of men
in order that he might become the
servant Of God. Liberty. according to
Judaism. implies responsibility. The
jew in Egypt was unable TO devote his
life to the service Of God. but this can
not he said Of the jew Of today who
is free to discahrge his mission in the
world.
Moreover, Passover also brought
hope and cheer to the heart of the
Jew throughout the ages 1t taught
him that just as God freed the en-
shaved Isrnelites from Egypt, He will
bring freedom and salvation to the
Jews Of all bcnightcd lands, and to OPP
pressed nations everywhere.
The leaders of Jewry are very an
Nious that the message of Passover,
which is so strikingly brought home
through the Scder ceremony, should
reach the jew Of today. Since there
are Jews who do not always find it
possible to have a Scdcr service Mt
their homes, the tendency in modern
Jewish communities is to arrange pub
lie Seders in which several hundred
people often participate
Just like on all other festive occa-
sions, special Passover services are held
at all Synagogs. Passover. however is
primarily a home festival Jewish
homes are especially renovated for this
occasion, and unlcavencd bread is used
during the entire week. This bread of
Hffliction," which is made of only -four
and water, is reminiscent Of the time
when the Israoitcs, being driven ont
from Egypt, had no time to bake brend
and they had to bc satisfied with this
improvised form Of food.
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