Passover, for those who need a little refresher, is an 8-day holiday during which Jewish people conduct two seders that commemorate the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. It is when we refrain from consuming foods that are referred to as chametz (unleavened items such as bread and bakery goods).

To help you get started on your learning journey, we’d like to share 3 lessons that you can learn from the story of Passover:

Sometimes Your Path Isn’t What You Thought It Would Be

One of the most interesting parts in the story of Passover is when G-d comes to Moshe (Moses) and tells him he has been chosen to lead the Jews out of Egypt. Moshe refuses, saying, “How can I be a leader? I have a stutter and don’t feel ready for the task. You must have the wrong guy.” Moshe’s response would be understandable if he were talking to a friend, but this is actually G-d Himself telling him what he is meant to do in his life! 

Perhaps Moshe’s ideas surrounding his own identity prevented him from seeing what was possible for him. As individuals, we do this all the time too. We label ourselves and convince ourselves that it is not possible for us to achieve greatness. We underestimate our ability. When you wonder, “Why isn’t this working out for me?” It’s possible that you’re not paying attention to the signs that tell you that you should take a different path, one that allows you to achieve what you were meant to do. 

Hardships Can Be Hard to Understand, But Every Hardship Has a Purpose

The Jews spent over 400 years as slaves in Egypt, going through terrible ordeals during the harsh conditions of slavery. Many people ask, “Why did the Jewish people have to go through such hardship before being redeemed by Moshe?”

It’s doubtful that the Jews would have followed Moshe out of Egypt if they hadn’t been slaves. If they had been comfortable where they were and had not experienced the wrath of the Egyptians, they might not have left their homes for the unknown. They might not have been willing to place all their trust in G-d and Moshe. Hardships in life are sometimes meant to push us forward toward a better and brighter future, just like the Jews were pushed to leave Egypt toward a life in Israel under the covenant of G-d.

One Person Has The Power To Make A Monumental Change

Right at the beginning of the Passover story, Moshe’s mother places him in a basket in defiance of the Egyptians in order to save her baby. She had no way of knowing that this one act would lead to the redemption of an entire people, but Moses then returned to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt. Through this, we have a beautiful illustration of one of Judaism’s core concepts, that of individual responsibility to do what is right. One person can save an entire nation, and the Passover story is proof of that.

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