From Passover to Easter – How are they interlinked?

Passover was one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (Shlosha Regalim) during which the entire population of Judah and Israel were instructed to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Today we will start the feast of Passover. Together with Shavuot and Sukkot, Passover was one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals (Shlosha Regalim) during which the entire population of Judah and Israel were instructed to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.

It is on this holiday that a young Rabi from the Galilee comes (as required) to Jerusalem in order to
participate in the traditional rites. His name is one of the most known names in the world today. Do you know who I am referencing to? These pilgrimages were conducted during the existence of the Temples (1st and 2nd) in Jerusalem.

This week we also encounter the beginning of the special week that leads to Easter as that is the Christian name associated with this time. In which Christians will celebrate ultimately the rise from the death of Jesus Christ. The traditional statement “He is risen” comes from the fact that by Christian tradition, Jesus rose from the dead 3 days after his execution and burial.

The holiday of Passover is mostly associated with the Book of Exodus, in which, God helped the Hebrews in escaping from slavery in ancient Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the Egyptians before the Pharaoh agreed to release the Hebrew slaves. The 10th plague was the death of the Egyptian first-borns.

The Hebrews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord knew to pass over the first-born in these homes, hence the English name of the holiday = Passover (Pass-Over). The connotation of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice is made by many and the statement “Sacrificed for our (humanity) sins” is associated with that.

It is one of the most interesting years we are experiencing in Jerusalem as a modern plague (Covid-19) hits the world on these dates and even the Holy Sepulcher Church (believed to be Jesus site of execution, burial and Resurrection by many) was closed to the public due to that will actually broadcasted the special rites and ceremonies there by internet.

The holiday of Passover is known by additional names and as it marks the beginning of Spring in Israel, we traditionally go out to enjoy the bloom.

May we have a blessed holiday season and may this truly be a time of rejuvenation for the world and for us.

Happy holidays☺