Pesach

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Pesach resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

Pesach: Hope for the Best

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Pesach is the Jewish holiday of hope. It marks the beginning of the Jewish (lunar) year – and new years are always times of hope. It is celebrated in the spring, the wonderful season of hope and renewal. We read Shir HaShirim, the Song of Songs,…
Article
Apr 16, 2017

Pesach: Now that is Slavery!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Our images of Egyptian slavery are those of forced labor and murder by a ruthless tyrant and his many followers. Despite Joseph literally saving Egypt from ruin, "a new king arose who knew not Joseph" (Shemot 1:8). Taxation, hard labor, loss of…
Article
Apr 10, 2017

Pesach: A Seder in Sedom

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"He made a feast for them and baked matzah and they ate" (Breisheet 19:3). The "angels" had come to Sedom to rescue Lot from the destruction that awaited the metropolis of Sedom-Amorah. Rashi, commenting on…
Article
Apr 9, 2017

Pesach: Old Questions, New Answers

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Chanoch lena’ar al pi darcho, train each child according to their way” (Mishlei). It is at the Seder that we analyze the questions of the “four children”, but their message is relevant all year round. One approach does not fit all, nor is any…
Article
Apr 22, 2016

Pesach: The Wise and Wicked

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Seder night brings together Jews from all orientations and perspectives. The future redemption of the Jewish people, a theme which is central to the seder, is dependant on different types of Jews learning how to respect each other even as we may…
Article
Apr 22, 2016

Shabbat Hagadol: Redemption is Near?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Historians and sociologists have long debated whether it is historical trends that determine the course of events, the historical personalities being of little significance, or whether it is people of great stature who shape the course of history…
Article
Apr 15, 2016

Passover in the Biblical and Second Temple Periods

Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich

The People and the Book: Annual Conference on Tanach (2016)
Audio
Apr 5, 2016

Pesach: Looking Forward

Rabbi Jay Kelman

There is something most beautiful about a holiday that celebrates our past being focused on future, on our children. Pesach marks the founding of our people, and it is the story of our past that we retell at our seder. “We begin with shame and end…
Article
Apr 9, 2015

Beyond Redemption? Rethinking the Wicked Son

Dr. Elliott Malamet

Audio
Apr 6, 2015

Pesach: Pass the Karpas

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"Therefore, in every generation, one must see themselves as if they have left Egypt”. All too often, we can only fully appreciate what we have when it is missing. Freedom is so much sweeter for those who have experienced slavery. And on seder night…
Article
Apr 3, 2015