What is the oldest holiday that people still celebrate today? Christmas? Easter? Halloween? Good guesses, but all incorrect. Dennis Prager has another answer, one you probably haven’t considered. The more you know about this holiday, the more you realize its incomparable significance.
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Script:
If you look up “world’s oldest holiday”—a holiday that is still observed—you will probably get “New Year’s.”
But that doesn’t really count. New Year’s was not one holiday—different groups celebrated it in different ways, often with different calendars. And aside from marking the new year, it doesn’t commemorate anything—not an event or a person.
So what is the world’s oldest holiday?
The answer is Passover.
It has been celebrated continuously, in the same way, by the same group, and commemorates a single event.
Jews have been doing this for more than three thousand years. That alone is almost incredible.
But Passover is not only the world’s oldest holiday, It is also the world’s most important holiday. I’ll explain why in a moment.
First, a word about the story of Passover.
It celebrates the Jews’ Exodus from Egypt in approximately 1200 BC, or BCE, as many academics now refer to it.
The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years until, as described in the Hebrew Bible, the Egyptians suffered what are known as The Ten Plagues. Their Pharaoh—the Egyptian ruler—finally relented and allowed the Jews to leave. That is the story of the Exodus, the most widely known national event in Western history.
And why is the Exodus so important?
For the first time in history, the primary religious book of a civilization went on record as identifying its god with liberating slaves. The gods of every other nation either said nothing about slavery or endorsed it. But the God of the Exodus liberated an enslaved nation. And He not only liberated Jews. The Book of Exodus records that a “multitude” of peoples left Egypt with the Jews.
But didn’t that book, specifically the Book of Exodus, allow some forms of slavery? Yes, it did. But with the exception of captives in wartime, it did not allow slavery as we understand the term. Biblical slavery was what is known as indentured servitude, an institution that was so common throughout history that a large percentage of the Europeans who came to America in its early days came as indentured servants. This institution was not slavery. People who couldn’t pay off their debts worked their way out of debt—for a fixed length of time. In the Bible, that was six years.
One powerful proof that the Exodus meant that God did not approve of slavery is that the Exodus inspired enslaved people in different parts of the world to hope for freedom. For example, black Americans thoroughly identified with the Exodus and with the Israelites. The best-known black spiritual (or religious folk song) was “Go Down Moses” with its famous refrain, “Let My People Go,” the very words that Moses, the leader of the Israelites, repeatedly said to Pharaoh:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt’s Land.
Tell ol’ Pharaoh,
Let my people go.
The lyrics of the song refer to Harriet Tubman, the famous runaway slave who later helped fellow slaves escape to freedom. She became known as the “Black Moses,” and used “Go Down Moses” as a code to communicate with fleeing slaves.
The Exodus not only inspired slaves in America; it equally inspired free people in America. Two of America’s Founders, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, designed a great seal for the United States. And what did that seal depict? The Exodus.
Every year, for more than three thousand years, Jews have kept the memory of the Exodus alive by celebrating Passover. The first night of the holiday features the dinner known as the Passover Seder, the Hebrew word for “Order.” The Seder meal is conducted in a very specific order that ensures the story be told accurately and that anywhere a Jew goes in the world, he or she will be engaged in the same exact ritual.
For the complete transcript visit: https://www.prageru.com/video/why-you-should-care-about-passover
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Passover, by definition, is the angel of death passing over the homes whose doorposts were painted with the blood of the sacrificial lamb. You’re right. There would be no Christianity without the sacrificial lamb. No salvation either.
How about YOU start caring for values? Supporting rich pede– rasts using surogate women to create a woke "family". Unsub-ing you woke traitors
Moses, Moses was there too.
SCREW YOU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73fTUFZ9NU0
This explanation of the Passover contains wrong translations of the Bible. Conservatives have been using the Bible to reinforce slavery. Btw, Jesus was a Jew AND a socialist.
How about a video on NOT supporting 2 men having a baby. YAHWEH knows your a fraud dennis. Let that sink in
Correction: Not world’s oldest, it’s oldest Abrahamic holiday.
Anyways a big thank you for all the information you share. God bless.
I am a pastor in Latvia and have celebrated Passover for over 18 years with my congregations to get a better understanding of our Judeo-Christian history. Yes, I agree. Passover is the most important holiday for without it, there would be no Holy Communion for Christians.
Thank you!
Why is Mr Prager talking about religion, he believes in gay marriage an them raising children?
Thank you very much Dennis! Hag Pesach Sameah!
I'm pretty sure New Year doesn't stop counting just because it doesn't adhere to your made up definition of what a holiday is.
Hell I'd argue New Years is a more important holiday just because it's all about progression and looking towards a greater future which I feel is key to making humanity what it is, being anti-slavery is a really nice sentiment but it kinda gets stumped when it doesn't apply to soldiers who get kidnapped during war. Plus slavery is awful but simply being against isn't all it takes to make one tradition more important than all others
My impression since many decades was that the exodus story depicts that God wanted to free that chosen people from slavery, not necessarily all slaves universally.
I do think that God doesn't want people to be kept as slaves, just I didn't have the impression that the exodus story conveys that unequivocally.
The conclusion that "we would instead have a lot of slaves (everywhere)" seems very far fetched.
Slavery (being kept as a slave) is against human nature and it is also economically bad choice in the long term.
Nevertheless, thank you for the video.
Happy Passover, happy Easter.
Passover's only celebrated by Jews because they only follow part of the Truth revealled by God, As an Orthodox Christian I get to participate in the Fufilment of Passover that is Great and Holy Pascha where Our Lord fufilled the Old law of the Jews, instituted the Holy Eucharist that is Christ's Body and Blood, and the New Israel and the fullness of the law under the New Covenent for us in the New Israel (I.E The [Orthodox] Church Christ founded. So no I won't practice the old law passover but celebrate the fulfilment of the Law Our Lord accomplished on Great and Holy Passover for the New Israel. Offensive, maybe, but that's how it is.
As a history and theology student in ireland i have to step up. Passover is only roughly 1500 years old. Prager means it celebrates something that happened 3000 years ago. Halloween and Holi predate it by several hundred more years. Thats off the top of my head but Im sure there are many more
I see the Seder service as also-even more so- as celebrating Y’shua’s liberating us from sin. He answers the unspoken questions, “Why are there 3 compartments in the matza Tasha?” “Why is it that the middle piece is broken & buried in a linen cloth to be resurrected later in the meal?” “Why did He refer to the matza as his body & the 3rd cup, the Cup of Redemption, as His blood?” As a Christian, I celebrate Passover Seder as the full, complete Communion.
Not almost incredible; it's incredible.
The Prince of Egypt is my favorite movie!
Baruch HaShem Adonai! Amen. ✡✝
Excellent historical content with a powerful contemporary message.
The god of the exodus liberated slaves, and then allowed slaves AND indentured servants
Absolutely love the design in this video. Could you please share the contact info of your logo designer? They are amazing. Thank you.
Prager U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMzjvpsYf8Y
Religion is FAITH based, dictionary definition meaning: belief in religious dogma without evidence!!
There’s zero evidence of ANY god !!
There zero evidence of any mythical Bible fairytale stories!! Bible is 90% disproven by science & logic, historically inaccurate, exaggerated or just false
There’s no eyewitness or archaeological evidence of Jesus, as a historical and magical figure!! Nobody knows exactly when he was born or when he died, the earliest non secular being Tacitus or Josephus….which are highly debatable, many of Christians go to apologetics arguments never mention name Jesus or are just Christian forgeries
It’s sad that these dumb foolish people are easily ignorant to facts and easily manipulated & indoctrinated to believe in such utter nonsense
You do not tell the story of the Exodus as an historical event. You skip the blood of the event. The crossing of the red sea … 2,000,000 participants in this undeniable event gave their testimony to it all and never contested Moses in his account. Even HOLLYWOOD COULD NEVER MAKE A FILM TO SHOW ANYTHING LIKE THIS. Two million or more participants.!!!!!!
This leaves out the tiny detail that the holiday celebrates the magic of lamb’s blood in sparing the Hebrew slaves’ children from the mass murder of Egyptian children by Jehovah.
Dennis, I would find it interesting if you were to make a similar video, regarding Hanukkah
I agree and can understand why you would say Passover is the oldest continuous holiday, as it would be from the perspective of a Western view; but I must disagree as definately Indians and Chinese here in Asia have cultural holidays that extend into the thousands of years
Passover is the event when the angel of death passed over and didn’t kill the first born son in the homes of those that obeyed the instructions. It isn’t synonymous with the exodus. It happened before the exodus. Exodus 12:12-13 KJV
[12] For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. [13] And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are : and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Grace & Peace
Israel is counting on you all to be Jew worshippers so they can finally rid the land of Palestinians with your support and tax dollars.
@maklelan The discussion of Biblical slavery is laughable.
Yup, there is no celebration like the celebrating of murdered children en masse. Just the kinda guy i can really look up to you know.
I agree Dennis. Passover is an important holiday. The blood on the doorpost (the Cross of Christ) and the sacrificed lamb (Y'shua) saves from judgement all who will trust in it.
Yes, we should definitely care about Passover.
"… For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed" 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Passover wasn't celebrated for 3k years. The whole exodus is mythical. So when pass over started to be celebrated. Just king of Judea Josiah started that tradition it's even said so in the Bible that it came from a old book his priests "found" in the temple. So not 3000 years but 2600 years atleast though sokot is older that originally was a holiday of gathering the harvest it's still is one of his names.
When I was living in Ohio I went to a small church. We had a family of Messianic Jews are members and they taught us about the Sader meal. It was so beautiful to learn about it. I wish more Christian churches would implement this into their teachings.
Not Jewish so no, I should not care
Thank you Dennis for this video. I would have added that the term Passover refers to the angel passing over the Jewish houses who had Lambs blood on their door lentils, a foreshadowing of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ's shed blood on the cross.
The 10 commandments come out of Exodus. The first laws for freedom.
Our Calvary Chapel church celebrated Passover, but my husband (Rest in Peace) and I never attended. We knew the story and the history and didn't feel the need to act it out. But in a few minutes, Dennis Prager has shown me that it's OK for nonJews to participate in Passover, even convinced me that Christians should learn the ritual and celebrate the miracles worked by our God, for His glory and His fame, and the enrichment of our own lives. Thank you, Dennis, so ver much. Or, as we say on Oah'u, mahalo o nui!
Tell that to the people of Chicago and Compton USA
Current day Passover Observance commemorates the ancient Hebrews' ritualistic marking of their home's door frame with Innocent First Born Lamb's Blood to achieve salvation from the Angel Of Death for the family inside that marked home.
Current day Easter Observance commemorates the Innocent First Born Lamb (Jesus) spilling His own blood to achieve salvation from the Angel Of Death … for you and me.
Do you recognize any parallel between Judahism and Christianity? The God of Moses was foretelling His own – future – atonement and sacrifice.
well said!