[net.religion.jewish] Passover

johnr@azure.UUCP (John Rutis) (08/08/84)

I've gotten the impression that Jews who try to observe the
festivals found in Leviticus 23 usually try to be very
careful in their observance.  I am puzzled, therefore, by
an anomaly I see:

Lev. 23
5  In the fourteenth day of the first month
   at even is the LORD'S Passover.
6  And on the fifteenth day of the same month
   is the feast of unleavened bread unto the
   LORD: seven days must ye eat unleavened
   bread.
7  In the first day ye shall have an holy
   convocation: ye shall do no servile work
   therein.

The Passover began at sunset on the 14th and the feast
of unleavened bread began at sunset on the 15th.  Unless
I've got my signals crossed, Jews today celebrate the
Passover on the night of the fifteenth.

Num: 33
3  And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on
   the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow
   after the passover the children on Israel went out
   with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.

Ex. 12
22 ... and none of you shall go out of his house until
   morning.  (Passover night, Abib 14)

41 ... even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the
   hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for
   bringing them out of the land of Egypt: this is that
   night of the LORD to be observed of all the children
   of Israel in all their generations.

Deu. 16
1  ... for the LORD God brought thee forth out of Egypt
   by night.  (Abib 15)

It appears to me that the Passover and the "night of the
LORD to be observed" are two different festivals on two
successive nights.  Yet they seem to have been combined.
When and why were they combined?  Do any Jews today keep
them separate?

I would sincerly like to know what you know or think
concerning this apparent anomaly.  Thank You,

John Rutis