Every month of the Hebrew calendar carries a unique theme, corresponding to a part of the body and a human faculty. The month of Adar, for instance, is associated with laughter. In the month of Nisan, the season of Passover, a different faculty is focused on—speech.
The Hebrew name for Passover, “Pesach” contains within it the Hebrew words for “mouth” and “to speak,” meaning “the mouth that speaks.” This is no coincidence. Passover is deeply rooted in the act of storytelling. The primary commandment of the Seder night is to speak—to tell the story of the Exodus and recount the miracles that led to freedom.
The Hebrew term “Haggadah” itself means “the telling.” Exodus 13:14 explicitly commands: “And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying: What is this? that thou shalt say unto him: By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage” (JPS 1917, Exodus 13:14). Unlike other Hebrew traditions that encourage measured speech, Passover is unique in that the more one speaks, the better. The Seder night is dedicated to the power of words, the transmission of history, and the expression of faith.
To fully grasp why speech is central to Passover, we must go back to the very creation of humanity. The Torah states in Genesis 2:7, “Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (JPS 1917, Genesis 2:7). The phrase “a living soul” is translated in Jewish tradition as “a speaking soul.” Unlike animals, humans are defined by their ability to speak, to communicate ideas, and to bridge the gap between thought and action.
Speech is more than just words; it is a connector between worlds. It transforms abstract thoughts into tangible reality. This mirrors the very act of creation, where God spoke the world into existence. The Hebrew word davar means both “word” and “thing,” signifying that everything in existence is an expression of divine speech.
The slavery in Egypt was not just physical bondage—it was the exile of speech. The Israelites were not merely oppressed; they were silenced, unable to express their identity or connection to God. The Hebrew word for “Egypt” is Mitzrayim, which comes from a root word that means “constraints” or “limitations.”
Their leader, Moses, embodies this paradox. The man chosen to lead the people out of bondage—the ultimate spokesman of God—was unable to speak clearly. His speech impediment symbolizes the suppressed voice of Israel in exile. Only after the Exodus, when the people gained freedom, did Moses’ speech become articulate. The Hebrew name for the Book of Deuteronomy is Devarim, meaning “words,” and it begins with the phrase, “THESE ARE the words which Moses spoke…” (JPS 1917, Deuteronomy 1:1). The once-mute leader now delivers the divine message with clarity and power.
Passover is a time to reflect on the power of one’s own words. Just as speech brought the world into being, so, too, do our words shape our reality. The Exodus teaches that true freedom is the ability to speak, to express, and to convey divine truth.
The season of Passover is not merely a time of telling a story. It is a time to give voice to faith, history, and destiny. Because in speaking, one does more than just remember; one becomes the very expression of God’s purpose in the world.
Passover is not just about the past. It is about the miraculous transformation of the finite into the infinite—through the power of words.
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