Passover, the eight day (seven in Israel) Jewish festival commemorating the hasty exodus of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt begins tonight.  Celebrated by re enacting the Exodus with an elaborate ritual meal filled with symbolic foods and reading the history of the leave taking along with commentaries answering important philosophical and historical questions, the holiday is the foundation of and the beginning of the Jewish people.  As Yoram Ettinger, former Israeli Minister for Congressional Affairs at Israel’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., explains  in his Passover Guide for the Perplexed 2014: Passover is the oldest Jewish national liberation holiday, highlighting the comprehensive nature of Judaism: religion, nationality, culture/morality, language and history.  Passover underlines the centrality of spiritual, physical, individual and national liberty and optimism, playing a critical role in preserving Judaism,...(Read Full Post)