Time of our Freedom – Zman Cheruteinu
Passover is, as it were, the “firstborn” of the biblical festivals. God set it in place when He proclaimed at the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt: “You shall therefore keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year” (Exodus 13:10). As a first, Passover also sets a precedent for the purpose of the mo’edim, the set times of the Festival Cycle. Arnold Eisen describes this basic purpose well in saying that they are a remembrance that we are between redemptions. “We are commanded to recall the past, in order to remember the present – to see it clearly, to know it fully, in all its possibilities – in the light of our future full redemption.” These appointments with God offer unique opportunities that enable us to look back on God’s mighty deeds, to live in His light in the present, and to look forward in faith. Together with remembrance, rebirth and hope are also key elements of Passover. It is always celebrated in the spring when fresh new life is bursting forth after the gray confines of the winter. Passover offers the possibility and hope of renewal, of growth and positive change. …
Time of our Freedom – Zman Cheruteinu Read More »