The Story of Passover Trivia Quiz

Answer: Torah

Torah means instruction or law in Hebrew, and is the name given to the first five books of both the Christian Bible and the traditional collection of Hebrew writings. It is sometimes referred to as the Pentateuch, a Greek and Latin name.

Tanakh is an acronym derived from the first letters of the three divisions of the Masoretic Text, the collection of 24 books which comprise the Tanakh. These letters are taken from Torah plus the Nevi'im and Ketuvim. The Nevi'im refers to the Prophets while Ketuvim refers to writings.

The Old Testament is a collection of up to 49 books (depending on which denomination is being represented) which include the 24 books contained in the Tanakh and additional books. Elements of this collection are present in all three major monotheistic religions practiced today: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Hebrew Bible is an alternate term which is used to describe the books of the Tanakh and is used as a more neutral name.

Answer: Moses

The story of Moses tells that the Pharaoh of the time had ordered all newborn boys of the Israelites be killed due to their increasing population. The mother of Moses placed him in a reed basket which floated on the Nile and he was found and adopted into the Pharaoh's family.

Moses is recognised as a prophet by a number of religions including Judaism, Christianity, the Druze and Baha'i faiths as well as Islam. He is honoured by the Jewish people as a law-giver, receiving the Decalogue or Ten Commandments among others, including the Covenant.

Today, light portable baskets used for carrying babies are known in many countries including Australia and the United Kingdom as 'Moses baskets'.

Answer: Egypt

The story of Joseph tells that a famine impacted the Israelites for a period of seven years, however, Egypt was not impacted. Joseph, who was the Vizier of Egypt, issued an invitation to the Israelites to live in Egypt, with the area they eventually settled being named as the Land of Goshen.

While not entirely clear, it is thought that this referred to a section of lower Egypt in the East Nile Delta. As the population grew, the Egyptians became concerned about their rising population and enslaved the Israelites, until 430 years later when Yahweh spoke to Moses and commanded that the Pharaoh release the Israelites, leading to the Passover Exodus.

Answer: Death of the firstborn son

The night of Passover was in many ways, the most devastating plague as it caused the death of the firstborn son.

"This is what the LORD says: "About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt-worse than there has ever been or ever will be again."
Exodus 11, 4-6 NIV

This was the final of the Ten Plagues that Yahweh released on the Egyptian land and people. In order they are:

1) Turning the Nile to blood
2) Frogs
3) Lice
4) Flies
5) Plague or illness of livestock
6) Boils
7) Thunderstorm of hail
8) Locusts
9) Dark for three days
10) Death of firstborn

Answer: Lamb

Even today, the Paschal or Passover lamb is an important part of Passover observations and a lamb shank is often included as part of the meal eaten on the first night of Passover. The Torah details that the Passover was to be observed annually, once the promised lands were entered.

Traditionally an unblemished lamb or goat was selected and slaughtered in the courtyard of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is from this practice that Christians refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God.

Answer: Seder

The Seder is the meal traditionally eaten on the first night of Passover, with some communities holding a second Seder feast on the second night.

Traditionally families gather together in their best clothing, and share a meal. The food is served on a Seder plate which contains six items, all related to the Passover story. The story of the Exodus is read from the Haggadah, which includes specific songs and commentary from the Talmud.

Purim is a Jewish holiday commemorating the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, as told in the book of Esther.

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, and Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year.

Answer: Bitter

The bitter herbs, known as Maror, were prescribed as an essential component of the remembrance of Passover with the bitterness symbolic of the suffering of the Israelites in Egypt. Horseradish and romaine lettuce are often chosen and served on the Seder plate.

A second item served on the plate is representative of the Paschal lamb, or the sacrificial lamb. This can be represented by a lamb shank, or roast chicken wing or neck, known as the Zeroa.

Beitza or a roasted egg is also served as is Charoset, a paste of nuts and fruit (symbolising the mortar used by the slaves) and Karpas, celery or parsley which is dipped into salt water.

Answer: Unleavened

Matzoh, also spelled as matza or matzah is a form of unleavened bread. The Torah tells that because the Israelites had to leave quickly, they did not have time to allow their bread to rise before baking it. The rules governing its preparation are quite strict - the time between mixing the dough, working it and baking it must not exceed 18 minutes.

Challah is a bread that is similar to brioche, and normally served on the Sabbath.

Damper is a traditional Australian unleavened bread that is normally cooked on a camping fire.

Answer: Wine

The wine (or alternatively grape juice) is consumed at different stages during the meal. The first cup is consumed after the kiddush or blessing; the second is the Maggid or story-telling and coincides with the reading of the Exodus story from the Haggadah; the third is the Birkat Hamazon or grace after the meal; the fourth and final is the Hallel where certain Psalms are sung in celebration.

There are a number of explanations for the number four. One is that these relate to the four promises made to the Israelites:

1. "I will take you out..."
2. "I will save you..."
3. "I will redeem you..."
4. "I will take you as a nation..."

A second relates to the four decrees of the Pharaoh:

1. Slavery
2. The murder of all newborn males at birth
3. The drowning of all Israelite boys in the Nile
4. The order for the Israelites to collect their own straw to make bricks.

A third is that they represent the four matriarchs Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah.

Answer: Red Sea

Interestingly, the Hebrew name 'Yam Suph', traditionally associated with the crossing place translates as 'Reed Sea' or 'Sea of Reeds'. While the 'Red Sea' is in the correct geographic regions, there is speculation about whether the description could apply to one or more lakes or lagoons which are within the region or may have since dried up.

Suggestions include bodies of water in the Suez Valley, the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Eilat or the Lake of Tanis.