1-Minute Lessons about Passover

We thank Rabbi Nachman Simon for giving his permission to share his audio lessons about Passover.

Shabbat HaGadol is the Great Sabbath before Passover.

In the Jewish calendar, Shabbat HaGadol is the Jewish Sabbath before the festival of Passover. The commemorated events happened on the last day of the week before the Israelite’s Exodus from Egypt. On that day, they set aside sheep for the sacrifice that they would perform four days later, as G-d commanded. Although it was on the 10th of Nissan that year, it is always marked on that Seventh Day. (Note: the 10th of Nissan is also the anniversary of the passing of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.)

The Seven Noahide Laws are part of a universal message of Shabbat HaGadol.

How did the Israelites become slaves in Egypt?

Karpas is the name for the vegetable dipped in salt water at the beginning of the Passover seder. By rearranging the first three Hebrew letters, we get pe-rach. Rabbi Simon explains how this provides the answer.

Importance of telling the children: this is one of the main lessons about Passover!

Connection of Passover to the Final Redemption.

Why is the reading of the Prophets for the 8th Day of Passover from Isaiah 10:32 – 12:6 (including Isaiah ch. 11)? Because it speaks about the Messiah (Mashiach), the Messianic redemption and the Messianic Era − the ultimate goal of the Exodus.

With a lunar calendar, how does Passover stay in the spring?