Because the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar, the date changes from year to year on the Western calendar, falling sometime in March or April. This year Passover begins at sundown today. Most Jews celebrate Passover for eight days, but Jews in Israel and Reform Jews in other countries celebrate for only seven days. Passover is celebrated in the home at a ceremonial feast called the Seder. The story of the flight of the Israelites is read from a book called the Haggadah.
Foods symbolizing the escape from Egypt are among the dishes served.
Chief among these is unleavened bread, called matzah. According to the Bible, when the Israelites fled they did not have time to wait for their bread to rise, so they made and ate flat, unleavened bread instead. Over time, familiar words yield new insights born of our experiences. Grown-ups encourage curiosity and searching in the children. Equally important, adults have an opportunity to question, to discuss and to share.