The name Passover reveals a great mystery – the decisive test that precedes God’s action and Israel’s redemption from Egypt. God chooses Moses for the difficult task of leading the people of Israel from slavery to freedom. He prepares him for the coming challenges and tells him that the Pharaoh, king of Egypt, will harden his heart – only after a series of plagues will the people of Israel depart to serve God in the wilderness. The thread connecting the month of Nissan, the lamb, Egypt, the god Ramses, and the constellation Aries is profound and symbolic, touching the core of the story of the Exodus from Egypt.

Moses and Aaron act as representatives of the people, conveying God’s word to the Pharaoh – but it is uncertain whether the people themselves are even ready to leave Egypt. Prisoners who have lived in captivity for many years often fear freedom and prefer to remain inmates. A proverb says: “The prisoner does not free himself from prison.” A person accustomed to a life of servitude might fear the...

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