Ask Rabbi Tuly: Why Is the Holiday Called ‘Passover?’ Exodus 23:15

Apr 22, 2019

אֶת־חַג הַמַּצּוֹת תִּשְׁמֹר שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תֹּאכַל מַצּוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךָ לְמוֹעֵד חֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב כִּי־בוֹ יָצָאתָ מִמִּצְרָיִם וְלֹא־יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם׃

You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread—eating unleavened bread for seven days as I have commanded you—at the set time in the month of Abib, for in it you went forth from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty-handed;

Exodus 23:15

“You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread” says the Bible, so why do we refer to the holiday as ‘Passover?’ Rabbi Tuly provides a Jewish teaching that explains the difference between the two names and gets to the very heart of what this special festival is all about. Unleavened Bread, or Matzah refers to the Jewish people’s devotion to God when they followed Him without sufficient provisions into the wilderness, whereas ‘Passover’ refers to God’s loving concern for the People of Israel.

Watch Rabbi Tuly’s answer below:

 

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