Passover: A Night of "Observing"

       First Seder.  They say Passover may be the most observed holiday in the Jewish calendar.  I think I know why.

       The Torah not only depicts the dramatic events of the Passover; it simultaneously commands the observance of the event as a Holy Day for the rest of the people's life on earth.


"It was a night of watching unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt; this same night is a night of watching unto the Lord for all the children of Israel throughout their generations..."


        In the Hebrew word she-moo-reem, "watching," the merged ideas watching, keeping, guarding, protecting, observing, as in "observance" of Passover. . . .From the Torah itself, we simply don't know how to separate the ancient event of the Passover from the commanded celebration of it!