Why is Pesach (Passover) 7 days?  We have the first night seder meal, and then the next day (the first day of Pesach), we leave Egypt.  Done.  Why drag it out?

The only thing I can think is that there must be something that happens on the 7th day that is at least as important.

Let’s see… according to the Torah, we leave Egypt and travel 3 days and then turn around and back-track for 3 days until we come to the Yam Suf (the sea of Reeds), where we are confronted by Pharaoh’s army.   Hmmm.  If Pesach is about leaving Egypt, about getting out of the clutches of Pharaoh, then I guess this has to be part of it.

So, what happens on day 7, the last day of Pesach?  We cross the sea safely and Pharaoh’s army is destroyed by the sea.  Pretty important stuff here, no?

What I find interesting is that this week reminds of being born.  Ok, I don’t literally remember my birth, but the process is this:  if the child stays in the mother much longer, she will die, so she starts to push (Egypt sending us out saying they will die if we stay), the waters break (the splitting of the sea), and a new baby (the nation of the sons of Yisrael) is born.

I can now see why Pesach is 7 days, because that is how long our labor took.

However, there is something even deeper going on because the 7th day is an even more important day than the first.  Yes, I am saying that the last day, with no special, formal ritual to do is more important than the first day that has the seder.  How can I say that?

It starts with a midrash.  A midrash is part of our family’s oral tradition.  It is usually a story that helps fill in some of the details that are left out of the Torah.  While the Torah is telling us that some people want to fight and some want to pray and some want to surrender, the midrash tells us of on man, Nachshon, who decides he will trust haShem (god) completely and walk into the sea.  The water gets up to his knees and he keeps walking… his waist and he keeps walking… his throat and he keeps walking.  Soon the water is up to his nose.  One more step and he drowns.  He does not hesitate, he takes that next step… and that is when the water parts.  Wow.

A wild story to say the least.  But, what is it trying to tell us?  Well, let’s compare it to the beginning of the week.  On day one, Egypt sends us out.  We had no choice.  It was kind of like being fired and having a security guard escorting you out of the building.

On day 7, we decide what to do.  Are we going to go back to our slavery, our addictions to meat and good food and abuse and no freedom?  Or are we going to step into the waters that lead to freedom and trust that they will part, or some other miracle will save us from our slavery, our addictions.  It is scary because there is no guarantee what will be on the other side, or even that the waters will part.  But the choice is yours.  And tomorrow, Monday, April 1, the 7th day of Pesach (this year), is the day we choose.

Are you willing to be Nachshon?

About the Author

Shmuel Shalom Cohen spent 10 years studying Torah in Jerusalem. Six years ago, he started Conscious Torah to help Jews connect to their tradition in ways they didn’t think possible. Shmuel also started, and is the executive directory of Jewish Events Willamette-valley, a non-profit whose mission is to build Jewish community, pride, and learning. In his free time, Shmuel likes walks in nature, playing music, writing poetry, and time with good friends.