Commemorating the Exodus from Egypt

In Jewish history, certainly in Biblical history, the defining moment is the Exodus from Egypt. It is this passage from slavery to liberation that marks the birth of the nation of Israel and heralds their entry onto the stage of world history.  For that reason, the pivotal episode is writ large and often upon the pages of Jewish tradition. By exploring the many ceremonies and rituals commemorating the Exodus, we can learn about its more fundamental goal of describing God's relationship to the world – His power, His knowledge and His involvement, and about the power of mitzvot in general as the pivotal elements in guiding our lives towards moral meaning and spiritual substance.