![]() A Protestant during England’s transition from Catholicism, Tyndale was beheaded in 1536 for his reformist ideas, including wanting to make both the Pentateuch and New Testament accessible to everyone, even, as he is quoted as saying, the “boy who drives the plow.” His translation of the Pentateuch, printed in 1530, marked the first time that Hebrew Scriptures were made available in English. The confusion over the English word Passover is sometimes attributed to a 16th century Christian, William Tyndale, who coined it. Exodus unites the two into one celebration. In fact, there were two spring festivals to celebrate the renewal of life: one to sacrifice an unblemished animal and one of unleavened bread. Those ancient rituals, scholars believe, existed before the biblically described liberation from Egypt. This generally accepted meaning of the word is a “false etymology,” one of many “attempts to connect ancient rituals with the historical narrative of the Bible,” says David Biale, professor of Jewish history at the University of California at Davis. But like so much about the festival, it’s not so simple. Passover, the English translation of pesach, means that God passed over the houses of Hebrews marked with lamb’s blood so that only Egyptian first-born would be killed. ![]() Sign up for their newsletters here.The etymology of the word Passover seems obvious. Reprinted with permission from InterfaithFamily: supporting interfaith families exploring Jewish life. ![]() Find ways to diminish any discomfort for the coming year’s seder. Talk with your family about the ways in which they felt comfortable and uncomfortable. Some even give children “goody bags” filled with Passover symbols, frog stickers and even moist towelettes for the inevitable spills of wine. Some families have created a “Pat the Bunny”-type Haggadah for young children, using coloring sheets and cotton balls on pictures of sheep, sandpaper on pictures of bricks of the pyramids and grape scratch-and-sniff stickers on pictures of the Kiddush cups. Some families add favorite songs that children learn in religious school, while others enjoy reading aloud Deborah Uchill Miller’s “Only Nine Chairs,” a humorous account of a family seder. This discussion may engage your partner, children and friends. Or discuss ten “plagues” that we face today. If there are particular struggles that people attending your seder would relate to (such as the struggle for independence in India if an Indian woman will attend), be sure to mention them. Connect the story of the Passover liberation story to other freedom stories, past or present, political and/or psychological (such as freedom from negative patterns). Review the Haggadah before the seder to identify appropriate sections for them. Participating in this way can give your partner, children and friends a better opportunity to experience the seder. Assign everyone passages from the Haggadah to read aloud during the seder. You can include some or all of these in your own seder, or write your own blessings, with your family. Add blessings to welcome those who are not Jewish.įor some ideas, check out this article.
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