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GENERIC CULTURAL EVENT CRITIQUE

Name_Zane Dekoff_ Class period/section_Prof. Moffett tues./thurs. 11:30-12:50_

1. Name, date, type of event and place of event/exhibit.

Traditional/Reformed Passover Seder, 4/10/17 At the home of family friends

2. List the artists, speakers, or participants you saw; OR if this was an exhibit,

how was it designed and arranged (i.e. number of pieces or exhibits,

placement of the works included, information provided, etc.)?

The way we preformed the seder everyone takes part. There are sections from

passages of the torah that each person around the table takes a turn in reading.

3. What were the objectives of the event/exhibit? {100 words}

Passover or Pesach is all about remembering the past, Most people know the story

of passover in one way or another. In the old Testament this story is in the

second book, the book of Exodus. We celebrate passover to remember the

suffering and hardships the Jews had to overcome while escaping slavery in

ancient Egypt. The Hebrew word for passover Pesach literally translates to to

pass over because in the book of Exodus, while God was spreading plague over

Egypt and killing all the first born sons the land, god passed over all of the

houses that were marked with the blood of a slaughtered lamb. Only the

Hebrews knew to do this and so only the Jewish first born sons were spared.

4. What was the event/exhibit designed to make you think about? {150 words}
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The celebration of passover, and the telling of the events that took place in ancient

Egypt is a way for current and future generations to know, and understand their

ancestors brutal history. These stories that are told are also there to pay respect

to their ancestors that sacrificed every possession that a slave could give, all in

the hopes of freedom. Freedom from oppressive rule, but in their minds more

importantly freedom to warship their own God. Passover is also a story of

devotion, and staying true to ones beliefs. Through Famine, Plague, Disease,

Death and destruction the Hebrew people listened to their prophet who spoke the

word of god. They followed every task and command that was given without

waiver or fault. They stayed true to their beliefs, they knew that they were on the

side of god, and so as long as they stayed true, the hebrew people knew that

they would prevail.

5. What was the events/exhibits cultural context and how did this affect the

event/exhibit? {150 word minimum}

In Jewish heritage food plays a large role in any holiday being celebrated. The

tradition the Passover Seder is preformed with a large plate containing Six or

seven items in the center of the table. Each item has a specific meaning and

story behind it, here are just a few of those items. First the matzah, matzah is a

thin cracker, matzah is significant because when the Jews finally escaped Egypt

they were in such a rush that they didn't have enough time to let the bread finish

rising, so they put the slabs of dough on their backs and let the desert sun bake

the dough into thin crackers. this is why during Passover you are not allowed to

eat any leavened bread. (bread that has had time to rise) Another item on the
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Seder plate is the Zeroa" or shankbone, that represents the the sacrificial lamb

that was used to mark the doorways of the Believers so God would pass over

those houses. Another item you will find on you Seder plate is the bitter herbs

and salt water. The bitter herbs or Maror are there to remind us of the bitterness

of slavery that our ancestors lived through. We then take the herbs and dip them

in the salt water, which signifies the tears of our ancestors. In Jewish culture food

is always going to be an important topic mentioned.

6. What was the events or exhibits historical context/focus and how did this

affect the event/exhibit? {150 word minimum}

The Book of Exodus is where the story of passover originates. In the book God sees

that the Israelites have been inslaved for decades by the Egyptian Pharos, so

god sends Moses to tell the current Pharaoh to set the Hebrew people free. The

Pharaoh does not listen to the multiple warning given to him by Moses, and

eventually God releases the ten plagues upon Egypt. After the tenth and final

plague when the Pharos first born son is killed, Along with every other first born

son in Egypt the was not Hebrew, the Pharaoh tells Moses to take all of his

people and leave Egypt. After the Pharaoh tells Moses to leave with his people

Pharaoh changes his mind and tells his armies to pursue the Israelites. The

Pharaohs armies chase the Israelites to the Red Sea, this is where Moses (with

the help of God) parts the sea. Moses and all of the Israelites make it across to

the other side of the sea safely, outraged the Pharaoh tries to cross the sea too.

But alas Moses and god close the walls of water in around the Pharaoh and his
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army and they all get swept away. This is why we celebrate passover, to

remember the miraculous feats the Israelites preformed to overcome oppression.

7. What was the point of view of the participants/organizers? How were their

attitudes or approaches impacted by their culture/or that of the exhibited

pieces? {150 word minimum}

All of the participants enjoyed the relaxed yet still traditional style of our Passover

Seder. Even the participants that did not follow the Jewish faith enjoyed

themselves, learning about rich history of the Hebrew people. While we all sat

around the table enjoying the company of the other guests, we were also

learning the very meaning and importance of family, friendship, and faith through

the stories and prayers of the Passover Seder Haggadah. The Haggadah is the

actual scripted booklet that the participants read from in a passover seder. For

most people, at first sight the Passover service may seem a bit ritualistic and

outdated for modern times, and thats because for the most part it is. However,

with the help of the more experienced participants as well as following along with

the service in the copy of your Haggadah, you are able to see that even as old of

a tradition as the Passover Seder is; its stories and insight on the issues of

humanity make a Passover Seder an enjoyable and knowledgeable experience.

8. What other factors might have influenced the attitudes or approaches of the

participants/organizers
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9. What social issues did the event/exhibit address? {150 word minimum}

In ancient Egypt the Israelites were inslaved by the great Pharaohs for hundreds of

years. These Israelites were beaten, starved, and worked to the bone only to die

an agonizing death. Their eventual death making room so that their sons and

daughters could work the same occupation, suffer and eventually die in the same

way too. After suffering through these extremes of slavery and fascist rule over

the course of approximately 400 years the Israelites definitely had a pretty rough

go at life to this point. After helping to create some of the most advanced

technological and architectural feats in the world, the Israelites were finally able

to escape their oppressive rule. 400 years of scraping the bottom of the barrel,

barely able to survive, somehow the Israelites didnt loose their faith. The fact

that through theses brutal and horrific events that the Israelites endured every

day for 400 years, they did not forget who they were, where they came from, and

the amazing and impossible things that they can accomplish when the work

together for a common goal.

10. What philosophical issues? {150 word minimum}

In life from a very young age we are taught to be patient, we are told that patients is

a virtue, and that good things come to those who wait. Now lets put that into the

perspective of an Israelite who's family has been slaves to the Egyptian

Pharaohs for ten generations. The thought of freedom as tenth generation slave

may seem like a joke at this point, but to the Israelites it is only a matter of when,

not if. The teachings of the Torah tell its readers of the helping hand of god for the

needy. The Torah teaches you to give more than you receive, and to be content
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with what you have. And so the Jews in Egypt did just that. They did not give up

or loose faith that their God was coming, instead they waited patiently for a sign

from their God. Even after waiting for 400 years the Israelites did not loose track

of what made them who they were.

11. What answers/conclusions, if any, were reached? {100 word minimum}

Throughout history there are millions of stories of the oppressed prevailing and

defeating their rulers. The story of Passover on the other hand is not your

average underdog triumphant over their oppressor story. The Israelites did not

stage a coup, or try to assassinate the Pharaoh. Instead the Israelites stayed true

to their beliefs, followed the word of god through their prophet, and successfully

overcame tyranny without any real conflict. When on the right side of history,

sometimes the odds tip in your favor, but sometimes the impossible becomes

possible and thats when in the case of the Israelites, the miracles start

happening.

12. How did the event/exhibit relate to what we have been doing in class?

Our Passover Seder was a large diverse group of people from all walks of life, under

one roof discussing an important historical event for everyone, not just the

Israelites. different races, religions, and ethnicity together, enjoying good food,

knowledge, and each others company.