Shve'i shel Pesach
פסח של שביעי
Seventh day of Passover
Hebrew Calendar Date: The 22nd day of Nissan
Torah Reference:
“וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בַיַּבָּשָׁה, בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם; וְהַמַּיִם לָהֶם חֹמָה, מִימִינָם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָם
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.”
“ל וַיּוֹשַׁע יְהוָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל—מִיַּד מִצְרָיִם; וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-מִצְרַיִם, מֵת עַל-שְׂפַת הַיָּם
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore.”
When it began:
This holiday commemorates the day the Children of Israel reached the Sea of Reeds and witnessed the miraculous Splitting of the Sea which allowed them to cross safely, and then drowned all the Egyptian chariots, horses and soldiers that pursued them.
How it’s observed today:
The Seventh Day of Passover is another full Jewish holiday, with special prayer services and festive meals. Outside the Land of Israel in the Jewish Diaspora, Shve'i shel Pesach is celebrated on both the seventh and eighth days of Passover.
Customs:
Some synagogues place a cup or bowl of water on the table and spill the water to re-enact the splitting of the sea and sing songs of praise to God.
The Song of the Sea is recited aloud verse by verse in many synagogue’s prayer service.
Further Readings: