Passover sacrifice

%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%9E%D7%93 %D7%94%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%94 %D7%9C%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%AA %D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%9F %D7%A4%D7%A1%D7%97

Passover sacrifice (Hebrew: קרבן פסח, Korban Pesach) is a ritual sacrifice that was part of the observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The practice is rooted in the Torah and was performed in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Historical Background

The Passover sacrifice commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, where the Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. This act was to protect them from the Tenth Plague, the death of the firstborn, which struck Egypt. The instructions for the Passover sacrifice are detailed in the Book of Exodus.

Ritual Procedure

The Passover sacrifice was to be a male lamb or goat, one year old, without blemish. It was to be slaughtered on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan, and its blood was to be sprinkled on the altar. The meat was then roasted and eaten that night with unleavened bread (matzah) and bitter herbs (maror).

Preparation

The lamb or goat was selected on the 10th of Nisan and kept until the 14th. It was inspected to ensure it was free from any defects. The sacrifice was performed by the priests in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Sacrifice

The animal was slaughtered in the Temple courtyard, and its blood was collected and sprinkled on the altar. The fat and certain internal organs were burned on the altar, while the rest of the meat was taken home to be roasted and eaten.

Consumption

The meat of the Passover sacrifice was to be eaten on the night of the 15th of Nisan. It was to be roasted whole, not boiled or cooked in any other way. The meal was to be eaten in haste, with the participants dressed for travel, symbolizing the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt.

Significance

The Passover sacrifice is a central element of the Passover Seder, a ritual meal that includes the retelling of the Exodus story. It serves as a reminder of the Israelites' deliverance from slavery and their covenant with God.

Cessation of the Practice

The practice of the Passover sacrifice ceased with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. Since then, the Passover Seder has evolved to include symbolic foods such as the shank bone (zeroa) to represent the Passover sacrifice.

Modern Observance

While the actual sacrifice is no longer performed, the memory of the Passover sacrifice is preserved in the rituals and symbols of the Passover Seder. Some groups advocate for the restoration of the practice in a future Third Temple.

See Also

• Passover
• Exodus
• Temple in Jerusalem
• Kohen
• Passover Seder
• Matzah
• Maror