The origin of Passover, its ritual dimension, and its significance for Jewish identity

This thesis examines the internal and external perspectives on the origins of Passover, one of Judaism's most significant festivals, also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as well as Passover's ritualisation process and its role in shaping Jewish identity and memory. The study examines the Passover festival, God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses and His command to commemorate this event annually, its observance in Jerusalem in the form of Temple and sacrifice-centred rituals, its transformation into a domestic ritual after the destruction of the Temple, and the contemporary observance of Passover based on the seder and the associated Haggadah text. The first section covers different Tanakh narratives and modern academic debates regarding the origins of the festival, while the second section addresses the changes the festival has undergone in terms of ritual and the role these changes have played in transforming Jewish identity and memory. In this context, the study investigates how the festival, which was associated with the sacrificial ritual during the Temple period, was reproduced after the destruction of the Temple, replacing the sacrificial ritual that was discontinued, and what elements were incorporated to perform the festival. The study reveals that practices such as the Passover seder and Haggadah, instituted by Rabbinic authorities, not only ensured the continuation of the festival's observance but also preserved Jewish identity and constructed a collective memory through these rituals.