Well, maybe we're not quite ready for an etymological haggadah just yet. But this time of year I get a lot of requests (both by email and from search engines) for explanations for Pesach related words. So I've decided to compile them all here in one place. Enjoy!
Pesach means "pass over", right? Actually, probably not:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/pesach.html
Pesach means "pass over", right? Actually, probably not:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/pesach.html
Origin of the name "Mitzrayim" and the connection to the song Misirlou:
http://www.balashon.com/2009/03/mitzrayim.html
http://www.balashon.com/2009/03/mitzrayim.html
From Chur to Cherut(einu) to Uhuru:
http://www.balashon.com/2007/03/herut-and-uhura.html
http://www.balashon.com/2007/03/herut-and-uhura.html
The connection between "Leil Shimurim" and "shemarim" (yeast):
http://www.balashon.com/2007/04/leil-shimurim.html
http://www.balashon.com/2007/04/leil-shimurim.html
Chametz, chometz and hummus - is there a connection?
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/chametz.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/chametz.html
Kitniyot may not be a small issue these days, but it is related to "katan":
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/kitniyot.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/kitniyot.html
Gebrochts is related to broke - but not "broker":
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/gebrochts.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/gebrochts.html
A connection between "seder" and Sderot (but not Shedrot!)
http://www.balashon.com/2007/03/seder.html
http://www.balashon.com/2007/03/seder.html
You've probably never noticed the first word in the haggadah. The meaning "mix" is much more significant than the common translation "pour":
http://www.balashon.com/2009/03/mozeg.html
http://www.balashon.com/2009/03/mozeg.html
We do netilat yadayim twice? Does it mean "taking the hands"?
http://www.balashon.com/2006/10/netila.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/10/netila.html
On all nights we eat many yerakot - but is there a connection to yarok (green)?
http://www.balashon.com/2006/08/yarok.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/08/yarok.html
Does "mesubin" just mean sitting around? Well, it probably once did, then it took on a very specific meaning of reclining, and now we're back to sitting around again:
http://www.balashon.com/2008/04/mesubin.html
http://www.balashon.com/2008/04/mesubin.html
"Hit his teeth" or "blunt his teeth"? And a coffee connection:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/hakheh.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/hakheh.html
Who was the Arami? What did he do to our father?
http://www.balashon.com/2007/03/arami-oved-avi.html
http://www.balashon.com/2007/03/arami-oved-avi.html
God saw our "amal" - what does that mean?
http://www.balashon.com/2006/05/america.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/05/america.html
Not by a "saraf" - perhaps connected to "syrup" and "sherbet", but not "serpent":
http://www.balashon.com/2006/06/saraf.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/06/saraf.html
The third plague is kinim. Does kmo ken mean "(to die) like them" or ("to die") like a louse?
http://www.balashon.com/2008/04/ken.html
http://www.balashon.com/2008/04/ken.html
Bechorim or bechorot? And a connection to albacore:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/11/albacore.html
The sea that split: the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds?
http://www.balashon.com/2010/03/yam-suf-red-sea-or-sea-of-reeds.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/11/albacore.html
The sea that split: the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds?
http://www.balashon.com/2010/03/yam-suf-red-sea-or-sea-of-reeds.html
When did they start calling hazeret "horseradish"?
http://www.balashon.com/2006/03/hazeret.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/03/hazeret.html
Different theories about the etymology of matza:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/matza.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/matza.html
Maror and mor (myrrh) - bitter to taste and sweet to smell:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/maror.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/maror.html
The karpas from the haggadah and the karpas from Megilat Esther aren't related:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/karpas.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/karpas.html
Tzafun means hidden. Is it related to tzafon (north)?
http://www.balashon.com/2006/07/tzafon.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/07/tzafon.html
We finish the meal with the afikoman or we don't finish the meal with the afikoman? It depends what the word means:
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/afikoman.html
http://www.balashon.com/2006/04/afikoman.html
Echad mi yodea? Here's the story behind all the Hebrew numbers:
http://www.balashon.com/search/label/hebrew%20numbers
And don't forget to count the omer. But what does omer mean?
http://www.balashon.com/2009/04/omer.html
http://www.balashon.com/search/label/hebrew%20numbers
And don't forget to count the omer. But what does omer mean?
http://www.balashon.com/2009/04/omer.html
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