We are now in the season wherein we observe and celebrate the Passover, which is the first of the seven moedim or Feast of the Most High as stipulated in the Torah. The word Passover was coined by William Tyndale when he translated the Hebrew word Pesach into English. The word Pesach in its ancient definition by the sages means “He had mercy” while “eber” means “cross-over” or technically “pass-over.” Over the years, the acceptance of Pesach as Passover is no longer questioned but it still good to know the origin of words in its proper meaning and we will understand that it is all connected in the topic.
The special Torah reading for Chol HaMoed Pesach, the intermediate Sabbath of Passover, is Exodus 33:12-34:26, which includes the “13 Middot” (Exodus 34:6-7) or “Attributes of G-D,” which is also known as “the 13 Attributes of Mercy.” Is it not interesting to note that the ancient meaning of Pesach is actually “He had mercy” and being supported by the revelation of the 13 attributes of Mercy and the most famous phrase “I will have mercy in whom I have mercy” (Exo 33:19) is also in the same reading of this Parsha?
Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.