united in celebrating Passover together, with their one Lord and God. The whole of Israel eats whole roast lamb on one specific day in the evening, in the presence of the one God, whose mighty act of liberation they are witnessing. Israel is labeled the ˓ēdâ—“gathering, company, congregation”—called into being by Yahweh himself. Israel is a community by virtue of God’s call, not by virtue of ethnic origin or political necessity or common interest. The general instruction for the offering of