The Jewish Holiday of Passover (Pesach) By Ariela Pelaia Updated July 26, 2016. Passover is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays and commemorates the biblical story of Exodus, when Hebrew slaves were released from bondage in Egypt. Called "pesach" (pay-sak) in Hebrew, Passover is a celebration of freedom. You can learn more about the Passover narrative in: What Is the Passover Story? Passover is celebrated for seven days in Israel and for eight days in the Diaspora (outside of Israel). The reason for this difference has to do with the way the ancient calendar worked. For a detailed explanation, check out: Passover Observance in Israel and the Diaspora - Seven Days or Eight? The Passover Seder Every year, Jews are commanded to retell the Passover story . This usually takes place during the Passover Seder , which is a service held at home as part of the Passover celebration. It is always observed on the first night of Passover, and in some homes on the second night as well. On both nights, the seder concludes with a dinner.

continue reading below our video The Story of Passover Learn more about the Passover seder in: What Is a Seder? If you would like to know more about the meaning behind the items on the seder plate , check out: The Meaning of Items on the Seder Plate Kosher for Passover? Passover is a holiday that has certain dietary restrictions associated with it. The biggest one has to do with eating unleavened bread, called matzah. This custom comes from the part of the Passover story that says the Hebrew slaves fled Egypt so quickly that their bread didn't have time to rise. Matzah is a kind of bread that is made without yeast and not allowed to rise, so eating it in remembrance of this part of the story is a way to bring some of the Passover narrative to life. In addition to eating matzah, Jews avoid any leavened bread during the week of Passover. They also avoid eating any food products containing wheat, barley, rye, spelt, or oats if they have leavening. According to tradition, these grains naturally rise if they are not cooked in 18 minutes and are called "chametz" during Passover.

In the Ashkenazi tradition corn, rice, millet and legumes are also on the no-no list. Because things like corn syrup and cornstarch can be found in unexpected places, the easiest way to avoid inadvertently violating the rules of kashrut during Passover is to only use food products that are specifically labeled "Kosher for Passover." Learn more about Passover food in: What is Kosher for Passover? Passover Encyclopedia > Philosophy and Religion > Judaism > Judaism Passover Passover, in Judaism, one of the most important and elaborate of religious festivals. Its celebration begins on the evening of the 14th of Nisan (first month of the religious calendar, corresponding to March–April) and lasts seven days in Israel, eight days in the Diaspora (although Reform Jews observe a seven-day period). Numerous theories have been advanced in explanation of its original significance, which has become obscured by the association it later acquired with the Exodus. In pre-Mosaic times it may have been a spring festival only, but in its present observance as a celebration of deliverance from the yoke of Egypt, that significance has been practically forgotten.

In the ceremonial evening meal (called the Seder), which is conducted on the first evening in Israel and by Reform Jews, and on the first and second evenings by all other observant Jews in the Diaspora, various special dishes symbolizing the hardships of the Israelites during their bondage in Egypt are served; the narrative of the Exodus, the Haggadah, is recited; and praise is given for the deliverance. Only unleavened bread (matzoth) may be eaten throughout the period of the festival, in memory of the fact that the Jews, hastening from Egypt, had no time to leaven their bread. Jewish law also requires that special sets of cooking utensils and dishes, uncontaminated by use during the rest of the year, be used throughout the festival. In ancient Israel the paschal lamb (see Agnus Dei ) was slaughtered on the eve of Passover, a practice retained today by the Samaritans. See T. H. Gaster, Passover: Its History and Traditions (1949, repr. 1962); P. Goodman, ed., The Passover Anthology (1961). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed.

Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: Judaism Advertisement Advertisement BBC - Religions - Judaism: Passover Religions Passover Last updated 2009-07-09 Passover is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. This article looks at the Passover story, the way it is celebrated, the Passover meal and its symbolism. On this page Find this year's date in the multifaith calendar Passover seder plate © Passover is one of the most important religious festivals in the Jewish calendar. Jews celebrate the Feast of Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) to commemorate the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of Egypt by Moses . Jews have celebrated Passover since about 1300 BC , following the rules laid down by God in Exodus 13. The story of Passover The story of Passover is told in the Book of Exodus. The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for 210 years. God promised he would release them from slavery, but not before Pharaoh had refused their release and God had visited ten plagues on Egypt to demonstrate his power.

(Exodus 3: 19-20) The first nine plagues were: The Plague of Blood: God turned the water of the River Nile into blood so that the fish died and the water stank. All the water in Egypt was turned into blood. The Plague of Frogs: Egypt was overrun with frogs - there were frogs in the beds, frogs in the ovens, and frogs jumping on the people. The Plague of Lice: Dust was turned into lice which crawled on people and animals. (The Bible calls this The Plague of Gnats, but in Judaism the accepted translation of the Hebrew word Kinim is lice). The Plague of Flies: Swarms of flies arrived in Egypt and poured into Pharaoh's palace, the houses of his officials, and all over the land. (The Hebrew word here is orov meaning mixture and in Jewish tradition this refers to a mixture of wild animals.) The Plague on Livestock: All animals belonging to the Egyptians died - horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats. The Plague of Boils: Festering boils broke out on the Egyptian people and their livestock.

The Plague of Hail: The worst hailstorm ever to hit Egypt struck, beating down crops growing in the fields and even killing people and animals caught in it. The Plague of Locusts: A swarm of locusts settled in Egypt and devoured anything left growing after the hail. The Plague of Darkness: Egypt became totally dark for three days. The plagues only affected the Egyptians - the Israelites were unaffected. The escape from Egypt The Tenth Plague - the plague on the firstborn An avenging angel would go from house to house killing every first-born son. Israelite children would not be killed and thus God would show that they were his chosen people. Home-made matzo. Matzo symbolises the Israelites' unleavened bread © So that the angel would know which houses were Israelite homes, the Children of Israel were to follow very specific instructions: Each household was to take an unblemished, male lamb, look after it, and slaughter it at twilight four days later. Blood from the lamb was to be brushed on the door frames. This would tell the avenging angel that it was an Israelite home and to 'pass over'.

Then the families were to roast the lamb and eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Every bit of the lamb had to be eaten and any remaining bones burned. The Israelites were to perform this ritual dressed for a journey. The Avenging Angel Arrives At midnight every Egyptian firstborn - from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of the prisoner in his cell - and even of the livestock - was struck down by the angel. The Egyptians were terrified and demanded Pharaoh banish the Israelites there and then. Shop-bought matzo © The haggadah also contains songs, blessings, psalms and Four Questions. These four questions are: Why do we eat unleavened bread? Unleavened bread or matzo is eaten to remember the Exodus when the Israelites fled Egypt with their dough to which they had not yet added yeast. Three types of herbs: horseradish and beetroot paste, lettuce and a whole horseradish root © Why do we eat bitter herbs? Bitter herbs, usually horseradish, are included in the meal to represent the bitterness of slavery. Why do we dip our food in liquid?

At the beginning of the meal a piece of potato is dipped in salt water to recall the tears the Jews shed as slaves. Why do we eat in a reclining position? In ancient times, people who were free reclined on sofas while they ate. Today cushions are placed on chairs to symbolise freedom and relaxation, in contrast to slavery. Usually the youngest person present will ask the questions and the father will respond. The paradox of this is that these four questions should be asked spontaneously, but celebrations cannot happen unless they are asked! The Passover meal The components The seder meal: clockwise from top, lettuce, lamb bone, charoset, horseradish and beetroot paste, celery and roast egg © Each of the components of the meal is symbolic. The food is eaten in ritual order and its meaning and symbolism is discussed. Matzo (unleavened bread) which is eaten symbolically three times during the meal. A bone of a lamb to represent paschal sacrifice. When the Temple at Jerusalem was the centre of Jewish life, Jews would go there at Pilgrim Festivals to sacrifice a lamb or goat. An egg, also to represent sacrifice, but which also has another symbolism.

Food usually becomes soft and digestible when cooked, but eggs become harder. So the egg symbolises the Jews' determination not to abandon their beliefs under oppression by the Egyptians. Greenery (usually lettuce) to represent new life. Salt water to represent a slave's tears. Four cups of wine to recall the four times God promised freedom to the Israelites, and to symbolise liberty and joy. Charoset (a paste made of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine) to represent the mortar used by the Israelites to build the palaces of Egypt. An extra cup of wine is placed on the table and the door is left open for Elijah. Jews believe that the prophet Elijah will reappear to announce the coming of the Messiah and will do so at Pesach. The concluding words of the Haggadah look forward to this: "Next year in Jerusalem!" Top Symbolism of Passover Passover is also called The Festival of Freedom and is a celebration of freedom, not just in Biblical times, but its importance to the individual today and throughout history. Jews believe freedom to be one of the basic human rights. Readings about contemporary slavery or oppression to show solidarity with the oppressed may be included in some traditions (although not in Orthodox Jewish households).

Jews living under oppression often use Passover to express their own desire for freedom. Ingredients of charoset: walnuts, wine, cinnamon, honey and apples © Festival of Spring Passover can be called the Festival of Spring and was an agricultural festival which marked the beginning of the cycle of production and harvest during the time the Jews lived in ancient Palestine. It symbolises hope and new life and the importance of starting afresh. Pilgrim festival Passover is also a pilgrim festival. It is one of the three occasions in the year when, according to the commandments of the Torah , Jews were to go to the Temple in Jerusalem. The home Passover began as a ceremony celebrated in the home, but once the Jews settled in Jerusalem they constructed the Temple and the celebrations moved there. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Passover celebrations returned to the home. Today, Passover celebrations continue to be focussed on the home. This makes Passover the most popular Jewish holiday. Families travel great distances to be together at Passover.

Passover readings Mysteries of the Jewish Calendar: Pesach (Passover) | Center on Religion & the Professions Center on Religion & the Professions Mysteries of the Jewish Calendar: Pesach (Passover) March 23, 2010 by Debra Mason Come explore the Jewish holy day of Pesach, or Passover, as part of the “Mysteries of the Jewish Calendar” lecture series at Carpe Diem in Columbia. Dianna Long, an attorney who holds degrees in Sociology and Religious Studies, will lead the class at noon on Thursday, March 25. “Mysteries of the Jewish Calendar” is an exploration of the Jewish calendar and an explanation of the historical and religious significance of the holy days falling within each month. The class will be held at Carpe Diem, 807 Locust St., Columbia. The cost is $15 or, for regular attendees, one punch on the class card. Students pay $5. For more information or to RSVP, call (573) 268-5989.

Celebrating Passover (Pesach) at Our Synagogue | Congregation Sons of Israel - Northern Westchester Conservative Synagogue Yom Ha’atzmaut Passover Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals of ancient Israel. Originally a combination of a couple of different spring festivals, it is a commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt, especially the night when God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague, and of the following day, when the Israelites had to leave Egypt hurriedly. Centered on the family or communal celebration of the seder (ritual meal), Passover is one of the most beloved of all Jewish holidays. The origins of Passover lie in pre-Israelite spring celebrations of the first grain harvest and the births of the first lambs of the season. Within a Jewish context, however, it celebrates God’s great redemptive act at the time of the Exodus, leading the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt to freedom.

Together with Shavuot (the Festival of Weeks) and Sukkot (The Festival of Booths), Pesach is one of the ancient Israelite pilgrimage festivals, during which adult males journeyed to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices and bask in the divine presence. Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the focus of Pesach celebration shifted to the ritual meal, called the seder, that takes place either in the home or in the community. In anticipation of Pesach, it is traditional to engage in a thorough spring cleaning. During the holiday, Jews’ food reflects the major theme of Passover, reliving God’s great redemptive act, albeit in a vicarious manner. Because the Israelites had no time to let their bread rise, Jewish law forbids eating (or even possessing) any food that can contain leaven. Therefore, a major part of the preparations for Pesach consists of removing all traces of leavened foods from the home and replacing them with unleavened foods (though many Jews prefer to “sell” their unused leaven products to a non-Jew for the duration of the holiday).

This necessitates both a massive cleanup and the replacement of one’s ordinary dishes with special Pesach ones. It also requires a shopping expedition to stock the kitchen with special Passover-kosher foods. The overarching theme of Passover is redemption. After all, this is the holiday that celebrates God’s intervention in history to lead the Israelites from slavery to freedom. It is a time to celebrate God as the great liberator of humanity. The divine redemption of the Israelites thus becomes the blueprint for the Jewish understanding of God and divine morality and ethics, which can be seen in Jewish participation at the forefront of movements for social justice. Although the focus of Passover observance is on the home, it should not be forgotten that Pesach is a holiday, on the first and last days of which traditional Judaism prohibits working. There are special synagogue services, including special biblical readings, among which one finds Shir ha-Shirim, “The Song of Songs” and Hallel, Psalms of praise and thanksgiving for God’s saving act in history. The last day of Passover is one of the four times a year that the Yizkor service of remembrance is recited. Pesach is usually marked as a family celebration of Jewish freedom.

Although the central ritual of this festival is the home seder, there are a number of rituals that are observed within the wider community. In the six weeks preceding Passover, there are a number of special Sabbaths, during which additional or special biblical readings are included in the service. The readings and special days relate to purification rites (Shabbat Parah), the month of Nisan in which Passover falls (Shabbat Ha-Chodesh), or a time to request instruction on the observances of the upcoming festival (Shabbat HaGadol). Finally, the day just before Passover is one of the minor fast days of the year. Called the Fast of the Firstborn, it is for firstborn males to commemorate the fact that no Jewish firstborn males were killed when the Angel of Death visited the homes of the Egyptians. One of the ethical components of Passover is called Ma’ot Chittim, literally “money for wheat.” It is a tax imposed on the congregation in the period leading up to Passover to raise money so that the poor can buy wheat to bake matzah and buy other special foods required for the festival.

Even though most congregations would not formally impose such a tax, it is very common in Jewish communities throughout the world to carry on with this custom by raising money or sending out Passover food baskets for the poor. The first and last days of Passover are full festival days, when traditional Jews do not work. Traditional Jews outside of Israel observe the first two and last two days as full-festivals, while in Israel and among liberal Jews worldwide, it is just one day at each end of the festival. The synagogue services of Passover begin with the evening service prior to the seder. A unique feature at this festival service is the omission of the kiddush (blessing over the wine). On Passover it is assumed that even the poorest will have wine or be invited to a home where kiddush will be recited at the seder. The morning service of Passover is distinguished by the reading of the excerpt from Exodus chapter 12 that discusses the Passover celebration. The traditional haftarah (prophetic) reading is from Joshua chapters 5 and 6, which contains the first mention of the Passover festival in the prophets. Hallel is recited as part of the service.

On the last days of Passover only a shortened version of Hallel is recited. One of the special additions to the first-day Passover service is the prayer for dew, “Tefillat Tal.” This parallels the prayer for rain recited during the Fall holiday of Shemini Atzeret . On the Sabbath that falls during Passover, the special reading is Shir ha-Shirim (Song of Songs), one of the megillot or five scrolls. The Torah reading contains parts of either Exodus 13, 14, or 15, depending on the particular synagogue’s tradition. It is the story of the crossing of the Red (Reed) Sea. The haftarah is from Second Samuel 22, another prayer of deliverance. This time David is beign saved from the hand of Saul. The last day of Passover is one of the four times of the year we recite Yizkor, the memorial service for the dead. The counting of the Omer (“Sefirat Omer”) commences on the second night of the holiday. Omer was the measure of barley brought to the Temple on the second day of Passover as an offering for the beginning of the harvest.

The days will then be counted publicly for seven weeks (a week of weeks), which culminates on the 50th day with Shavuot . The intermediate days of Passover, called “Hol ha-Moed,” are semi-holidays, on which Jews are permitted to work. Traditionally, the Torah is read in the synagogue every morning of Passover. The haftarah for the intermediate days is from Ezekiel 37, which contains the vision of the dry bones being resurrected by God. Passover is truly one of the richest and most profound of Jewish festivals, combining historical and agricultural symbols, practices, and rituals, which together constitute a holiday that is a treasure box revealing layers upon layers of significance. The central ritual of Pesach is the seder, a carefully choreographed ritual meal that takes place either in the home or in the community. A number of symbolic foods are laid out on the table, of which the most important are the matzah, the unleavened “bread of affliction,” and the shankbone, which commemorates the Pesach sacrifice in the Temple.

The seder follows a script laid out in the Haggadah, a book that tells the story of the redemption from Egypt and thanks God for it. Although the Haggadah is a traditional text, many people–particularly in the modern world, add to it and revise it in accord with their theology and understanding of God’s redemptive actions in the world. The Passover seder (meaning order) is probably the most celebrated and beloved of Jewish home rituals. Most Jews have cherished memories of past family times spent at a seder. It is believed that the obligation to tell the story of the Exodus was observed by Jews’ ancestors ever since the actual Exodus itself. The scriptural command (Exodus 13:8) to tell the story of the exodus to our children is interpreted as a positive commandment (mitzvah). One of the four names for Passover, and sometimes the aspect most emphasized, is Hag ha-Herut (The Feast of Freedom). Freedom is the primary theme of the seder, with numerous other recurring themes and motifs. The seder permits Jews to worship God through prayer, study, and learning by taking part in what is essentially a lesson of Jewish history, literature, and religion.

Participation in the seder lets one symbolically and vicariously relive the Exodus, where past and present merge. There are some essential elements to the seder that underlie the retelling of the Exodus. The three fundamental patterns of the seder are the family, the individual, and the nation. As a home event involving the full family as well as guests, the seder draws together all age groups. It requires the participation of the old and the young. On the individual level, the seder requires every participant to feel as though he or she personally left Egypt. The national pattern of the seder symbolizes the first step toward the final redemption from the slavery and the formation of the Jewish nation that did not exist as a nation before Exodus from Egypt. In order to tell the story, Jews have created an ingenious work of pedagogy. The “script” for this central ritual of Passover is the Haggadah (literally, “telling”). It contains questions and answers, stories, show and tell, song, food as reward and symbol, pathos, and suspense. The creation of this script took place over hundreds of years at the beginning of the Common Era.

There is evidence that parts of the seder were in a fixed format by the time of the Mishnah (second to third century CE). Midrashim were added and the current traditional version was fixed soon after. Because every generation has managed to find its own significance in this wonderful teaching tool, there is now a plethora of Haggadot with added stories, songs, games, and pictures, to suit every political, spiritual, and religious point of view. You can now find liberal, mystical, feminist, ecological and children’s Haggadot. The seder takes place following the Passover evening synagogue service on the first two nights of Passover (or just the first night in Israel and among liberal Jews worldwide). The seder is supposed to take place with everyone in a reclining position. This is because slaves ate hurriedly; the affluent and free were able to recline on cushions. On erev Pesach (Passover eve), rich and poor are indistinguishable and all are free and thus privileged to recline. Many families have the tradition of placing pillows on each chair or at least having the seder leader follow this practice of reclining. It is also customary for the chief celebrant to wear a white robe called a kittel.

There are a number of symbols that occur throughout the seder, but perhaps the focal point of the whole event is the seder plate. It contains a roasted shankbone, symbolizing the Pesach sacrifice in the Temple, a roasted egg symbolizing either the spring season or mourning (for the destruction of Jerusalem), maror (bitter herbs) to represent the bitter experience of the Hebrew slaves, haroset (a mixture of apples, nuts, raisins, spices, wine) symbolizing the mortar the Hebrew slaves used to build for the Egyptians, and karpas (parsley, celery, or another green vegetable) symbolizing the green of spring. The table must also have three pieces of matzah, each piece used for a different purpose, usually held in a special pouch made to be used during the seder. The seder service has a clear order, with each of 14 steps representing a different phase of the seder. Together, they serve to teach the lesson of the Exodus, God’s saving the Jewish people from slavery. Much of the seder discussion focuses on God’s might and the Divine role in redemption.

There are many instances of the number four throughout the seder: four cups of wine, four sons, four matriarchs, four names for Pesach, four Aggadot, four blessings, four types of food on the seder plate. The most well-known example is the Arba Kushiyot, or four questions. These questions, usually recited by the youngest person at the table, are meant to highlight the main differences between this meal and all other meals of the year. They are also a brilliant way of keeping young people interested and involved in the events of the seder. They include queries about why we recline, why we dip food, and why we eat certain types of food. Another special part of the seder is the extra cup of wine left on the table for Elijah. The suspense and excitement engendered by sending a child to open the door for the prophet who will be a harbinger of messianic times is almost electric. The chanting of the song Dayenu (“it would have been enough”), a joyous recognition of God’s numerous gifts to us in the course of the Exodus, is another highlight.

Every Jew will have his or her own special memories of a past family seder, but it is unquestionably among the greatest of our yearly rituals. In This Section Judaism 101: Pesach: Passover Judaism 101 Level: Basic Significance: Remembers the Exodus from Egypt Observances: Avoiding all leavened grain products and related foods; Family or communal retelling of the Exodus story Length: 8 days (Some: 7 days) And this day shall become a memorial for you, and you shall observe it as a festival for the L-RD, for your generations, as an eternal decree shall you observe it. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove the leaven from your homes ... you shall guard the unleavened bread, because on this very day I will take you out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day for your generations as an eternal decree. - Exodus 12:14-17 Seder Plate Pesach, known in English as Passover, is one of the most commonly observed Jewish holidays, even by otherwise non-observant Jews.

According to the 2000-01 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), 67% of Jews routinely hold or attend a Pesach seder, while only 46% belong to a synagogue. Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan . It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot ). Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel , but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Pesach observances are instituted in Chs. 12-15. The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottish "loch") comes from the Hebrew root Pei-Samekh-Cheit , meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.

In English, the holiday is known as Passover. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on this holiday. The holiday is also referred to as Chag he-Aviv , (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzot , (the Festival of Matzahs), and Z'man Cheiruteinu , (the Time of Our Freedom) (again, all with those Scottish "ch"s). Pesach Laws and Customs Probably the most significant observance related to Pesach involves avoiding chametz (leaven; sounds like "hum it's" with that Scottish "ch") throughout the holiday. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls. Chametz includes anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after first coming into contact with water.

Orthodox Jews of Ashkenazic background also avoid rice, corn, peanuts, legumes (beans) and some other foods as if they were chametz. All of these items are commonly used to make bread, or are grown and processed near chametz, thus use of them was prohibited to avoid any confusion or cross-contamination. Such additional items are referred to as "kitniyot." (usually pronounced as in Yiddish, KIT-nee-yohs). We may not eat chametz during Pesach; we may not even own it or derive benefit from it. We may not even feed it to our pets or cattle. All chametz, including utensils used to cook chametz, must either be disposed of or sold to a non-Jew (they can be repurchased after the holiday). Pets' diets must be changed for the holiday, or the pets must be sold to a non-Jew (like the food and utensils, the pets can be repurchased after the holiday ends). You can sell your chametz online through Chabad-Lubavitch . I have noticed that many non-Jews and non-observant Jews mock this practice of selling chametz as an artificial technicality.

I assure you that this sale is very real and legally binding, and would not be valid under Jewish law if it were not. From the gentile's perspective, the purchase functions much like the buying and selling of futures on the stock market: even though he does not take physical possession of the goods, his temporary legal ownership of those goods is very real and potentially profitable. The process of cleaning the home of all chametz in preparation for Pesach is an enormous task. To do it right, you must prepare for several weeks and spend several days scrubbing everything down, going over the edges of your stove and fridge with a toothpick and a Q-Tip, covering all surfaces that come in contact with food with foil or shelf-liner, etc., etc., etc. After the cleaning is completed, the morning before the seder, a formal search of the house for chametz is undertaken, and any remaining chametz is burned. The grain product we eat during Pesach is called matzah. Matzah is unleavened bread, made simply from flour and water and cooked very quickly. This is the bread that the Jews made for their flight from Egypt.

We have come up with many inventive ways to use matzah; it is available in a variety of textures for cooking: matzah flour (finely ground for cakes and cookies), matzah meal (coarsely ground, used as a bread crumb substitute), matzah farfel (little chunks, a noodle or crouton substitute), and full-sized matzah (sheets about 8 inch square, a bread substitute). Some people observe an additional strictness during Pesach known as gebrochts, from a Yiddish word meaning "broken," although I'm not sure what brokenness has to do with this restriction. Those who observe gebrochts (or more accurately, "no gebrochts") will avoid any matzah product that has come into contact with liquid after being baked. The rule arises from a concern that matzah may contain bits of flour that were not completely cooked and that would become leavened upon contact with liquid. People who observe this strictness cannot eat many common traditional Pesach dishes, such as matzah ball soup, and cannot even eat charoset on matzah at seder.

They are careful not to spill seder wine on their matzah, and promptly remove the wine spilled as part of the seder. Observance of this additional restriction is not common, but many people become exposed to it because it is followed by the Chabad-Lubavitch , who are active in Jewish education. Some have criticized gebrochts for unnecessarily complicating Pesach and taking some of the joy out of this celebration of freedom for no good reason, noting that the premise of this rule contradicts codes of Jewish law that explicitly say it is impossible for matzah to become chametz once it is baked. Nevertheless, this effort to more fully observe G-d's law is worthy of respect, even if you are not inclined to add this restriction to your own Pesach experience. The day before Pesach is the Fast of the Firstborn , a minor fast for all firstborn males, commemorating the fact that the firstborn Jewish males in Egypt were not killed during the final plague. On the first night of Pesach (first two nights for traditional Jews outside Israel ), we have a special family meal filled with ritual to remind us of the significance of the holiday.

This meal is called a seder , from a Hebrew root word meaning "order," because there is a specific set of information that must be discussed in a specific order. It is the same root from which we derive the word "siddur" , (prayer book). An overview of a traditional seder is included below . Pesach lasts for eight days (seven days in Israel). The first two days and last two days of the holiday (first and last in Israel) are days on which no work is permitted. See Extra Day of Holidays for more information. Work is permitted on the intermediate days. These intermediate days on which work is permitted are referred to as Chol Ha-Mo'ed, as are the intermediate days of Sukkot . When Pesach Begins on a Saturday Night Occasionally, Pesach begins on a motzaei Shabbat , that is, on Saturday night after the sabbath has concluded. This last occurred in 5768 (2008), and will not occur again until 5781 (2021). This complicates the process of preparing for Pesach, because many of the preparations normally undertaken on the day before Pesach cannot be performed on Shabbat.

The Fast of the Firstborn , normally observed on the day before Pesach, is observed on Thursday instead. The search for chametz, normally performed on the night before Pesach, is performed on Thursday night. The seder should be prepared for as much as possible before Shabbat begins, because time should not be taken away from Shabbat to prepare for Pesach. In addition, there are severe complications dealing with the conflict between the requirement of removing chametz no later than mid-morning on Saturday, the prohibition against eating matzah on the day before the seder, and the requirement of eating three meals with bread during Shabbat! For further details, see an excellent summary from the Orthodox Union , the world's largest, oldest and perhaps most respected kosher certification agency. The Pesach Seder And if your son asks you in the future, saying, What are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, that the L-RD our G-d commanded you? You will say to your son, We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt; and the L-RD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

The L-RD gave signs and wonders, great and harmful, against Egypt, against Pharaoh, and against all his household, before our eyes: And he brought us out of there to bring us in, to give us the land that he promised our fathers. -Deuteronomy 6:20-23 The text of the Pesach seder is written in a book called the haggadah. The haggadah tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and explains some of the practices and symbols of the holiday. Suggestions for buying a haggadah are included below . The content of the seder can be summed up by the following Hebrew rhyme: Kaddesh, Urechatz, For more information about how the Pesach seder compares to a traditional Jewish weekday, Shabbat or holiday meal, see Pesach Seder: How is This Night Different . Pesach Music Many people think of Pesach as a time of deprivation: a time when we cannot eat bread or other leavened foods. This is not the traditional way of viewing the holiday. Pesach is Z'man Cheiruteinu, the Time of Our Freedom, and the joy of that time is evident in the music of the season.

There are many joyous songs sung during the seder. Mah Nishtanah (Why is it Different?) This is the tune sung during the youngest participant's recitation of the Four Questions. Why is this night different from all other nights, from all other nights? Mah nishtanah ha-lahylah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-layloht, mi-kol ha-layloht? On all other nights, we may eat chametz and matzah, chametz and matzah. On this night, on this night, only matzah. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin chameytz u-matzah, chameytz u-matzah. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, kooloh matzah. On all other nights, we eat many vegetables, many vegetables. On this night, on this night, maror. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin sh'ar y'rakot, sh'ar y'rakot.

Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, maror. On all other nights, we do not dip even once. On this night, on this night, twice. She-b'khol ha-layloht ayn anu mat'bilin afilu pa'am echat, afilu pa'am echat. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, sh'tay p'amim. On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, either sitting or reclining. On this night, on this night, we all recline. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin, bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, koolanu m'soobin.

Dahyenu (It Would Have Been Enough For Us) This is one of the most popular tunes of the seder, a very up-beat song about the many favors that G-d bestowed upon us when He brought us out of Egypt. The song appears in the haggadah after the telling of the story of the exodus, just before the explanation of Pesach, Matzah and Maror. I provide just two sample verses from a rather long song. The English does not include all of the repetition that is in the Hebrew. Had He brought us out of Egypt and not judged them, it would have been enough for us. Ilu hotzi-hotzianu hotzianu mi-Mitzrayim, v'lo asah bahem s'fateem dahyenu. (Chorus) It would have been enough for us. Dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu. Dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu!

Had He judged them and not done so to their idols, it would have been enough for us. Ilu asah bahem s'fateem, v'lo asah beyloheyhem, v'lo asah beyloheyhem dahyenu. Chorus, etc. (Chorus) Recipe for Charoset This fruit, nut and wine mix is eaten during the seder. It is meant to remind us of the mortar used by the Jews to build during the period of slavery. It should have a coarse texture. The ingredient quantities listed here are at best a rough estimate; I usually just eye-ball it. The recipe below makes a very large quantity, but we usually wind up making more before the holiday is over. Other fruits or nuts can be used. 4 medium apples, 2 tart and 2 sweet 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds 1/4 cup sweet wine 1/4 cup dry wine 1 Tbs. cinnamon Shred the apples. Add all other ingredients. Allow to sit for 3-6 hours, until the wine is absorbed by the other ingredients. Serve on matzah. Goes very well with horseradish.

Buying a Haggadah If you want to know more about Pesach, the best place to start is with the haggadah. The haggadah was written as a teaching tool, to allow people at all levels to learn the significance of Pesach and its symbols. There are a wide variety of Haggadahs available for every political and religious point of view: traditional haggadahs, liberal haggadahs, mystical haggadahs, feminist haggadahs, and others. I have even seen what might be described as an atheist haggadah: one that does not mention the role of G-d in the Exodus. If you're buying a haggadah for study or collection, there are many haggadahs with extensive commentary or with pictures from illuminated medieval haggadahs. However, if you're buying haggadahs for actual use at a seder, you're best off with an inexpensive paperback. Keep in mind that you'll need one for everybody, you're likely to get food and wine on these things, and you'll be using them year after year.

I'm particularly partial to the Artscroll/Mesorah series' The Family Haggadah . It has the full, Orthodox text of the haggadah in English side-by-side with Hebrew and Aramaic, with complete instructions for preparing for and performing the seder. The translations are very readable and the book includes marginal notes explaining the significance of each paragraph of the text. This book is usually only available at Jewish gift or book stores, and usually sells for about $2.50. Another good traditional one is Nathan Goldberg's Passover Haggadah . This is the familiar "yellow and red cover" haggadah that so many of us grew up with. Believe it or not, it is frequently available in grocery stores in the Passover aisle. It usually sells for less than $5, and is often given away free with certain grocery purchases. Watch out for Christianized versions of the haggadah. The Christian "last supper" is generally believed to have been a Pesach seder, so many Christians recreate the ritual of the seder, and the haggadahs that they use for this purpose tend to reinterpret the significance of the holiday and its symbols to fit into their Christian theology.

For example, they say that the three matzahs represent the Trinity, with the broken one representing Jesus on the cross (in Judaism, the three matzahs represent the three Temples , two of which have been destroyed, and the third of which will be built when the mashiach comes). They speak of the paschal lamb as a prophecy of Jesus, rather than a remembrance of the lamb's blood on the doorposts in Egypt. If you want to learn what Pesach means to Jews, then these "messianic" haggadahs aren't for you. Finding a Seder Are you looking for a place to attend a Pesach seder? Chabad-Lubavitch sponsors Pesach seders all around the country. You can search for a seder in your area using their International Seder Directory . Key Terms Note: Pronunciations are intended to reflect the way these terms are most commonly pronounced by Jews in the United States, and may not be strictly technically correct.

Term Pesach will occur on the following days of the secular calendar: Jewish Year 5777: sunset April 10, 2017 - nightfall April 18, 2017 Jewish Year 5778: sunset March 30, 2018 - nightfall April 7, 2018 Jewish Year 5779: sunset April 19, 2019 - nightfall April 27, 2019 Jewish Year 5780: sunset April 8, 2020 - nightfall April 16, 2020 Jewish Year 5781: sunset March 27, 2021 - nightfall April 4, 2021 For additional holiday dates, see Links to Jewish Calendars . © Copyright 5756-5771 (1995-2011), Tracey R Rich If you appreciate the many years of work I have put into this site, show your appreciation by linking to this page, not copying it to your site.

I can't correct my mistakes or add new material if it's on your site. Click Here for more details. Passover observances more 'religious' in U.S. Passover observances more 'religious' in U.S. Israeli emissary in Kansas City sees differences in celebrations Yahav Barnea, 29, is the Israeli emissary for the Greater Kansas City Jewish Federation. Passover, a seven-day observance that begins at sundown Monday, April 14, is a distinctively Jewish holiday, rooted in the biblical story of the Exodus — one of the most powerful and gripping accounts in all of the Bible. For the 3,500 or so years since Moses demanded Pharaoh to “let my people go,” Jews have commemorated their ancestors’ flight to freedom from their Egyptian oppressors each spring around this time. Special services, Seder dinners and even house-cleaning are all practiced as part of Passover observances. Yet it may come as a surprise that Passover observances in Israel — home to the Jewish religion — often are more secular in nature than those in the United States.

Yahav Barnea, 29, the Israeli emissary for the Greater Kansas City Jewish Federation, said this is particularly true of Jews who live on a kibbutz, a communal arrangement based on socialist principles. “It is a big commune,” Barnea said of a kibbutz, “but not in a hippie kind of way.” There are an estimated 270 kibbutzim in Israel at this time, the first of which sprang up about 110 years ago with a focus on agriculture. Many who live on kibbutzim are “secular Jews,” Barnea said, meaning “they’re not observant” in terms of religion. A lot of times, she said, those on a kibbutz take out the more religious parts of Jewish history in celebrations. Passover observances on the kibbutz, for instance, commonly are focused on the ideals of freedom and family, or celebrations of springtime, as opposed to the retelling of the Exodus account from the Bible.

Barnea said she has noticed a stronger religious tie to Passover observances in the United States since she arrived here this past summer, with Jews participating in Seder dinners in their homes and utilizing the Haggadah — or a book retelling the Passover story — on the special occasions. Another difference in the Passover observance between Israel and the United States is the number of days the Seder meal is held. “Here, Passover Seders are celebrated two nights in a row,” Barnea said. “In Israel, we only celebrate one night of the Passover Seder.” Barnea said the reason for the extra night of Passover Seders in the United States comes from the fact that the holiday is based on the lunar calendar. As such, it was difficult to nail down the precise date for Passover. “So they celebrate two nights in a row here to make sure they get it right,” she said, “which is an interesting concept.” Barnea said there are many observant Jews in Israel who focus on the religious components of Passover. She also said she was looking forward to attending her first Seder dinners this coming week in the United States.

Advertisement Passover | Judaism | Britannica.com Passover Alternative Titles: Festival of Unleavened Bread, Hag ha-Matzot, Pesach, Pesaḥ Related Topics Judaism Passover, Hebrew Pesaḥ, or Pesach, in Judaism , holiday commemorating the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt and the “passing over” of the forces of destruction, or the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites, when the Lord “smote the land of Egypt” on the eve of the Exodus . The festival thus marks the first and most momentous event in Jewish history. Passover begins with the 15th and ends with the 21st (or, outside of Israel and among Reform Jews, the 22nd) day of the month of Nisan (March or April). On these seven (or eight) days, all leaven, whether in bread or other mixture, is prohibited, and only unleavened bread, called matzo , may be eaten. The matzo symbolizes both the Hebrews’ suffering while in bondage and the haste with which they left Egypt in the course of the Exodus. Passover is also sometimes called the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

Passover plate from Vienna, 1807; in the Jewish Museum, New York City. Graphic House/EB Inc. Passover is often celebrated with great pomp and ceremony, especially on the first night, when a special family meal called the seder is held. At the seder foods of symbolic significance commemorating the Hebrews’ liberation are eaten, and prayers and traditional recitations are performed. Though the festival of Passover is meant to be one of great rejoicing, strict dietary laws must be observed, and special prohibitions restrict work at the beginning and end of the celebration. See also matzo ; seder . A family at a seder, the ritual meal held to commence the Jewish festival of Passover. age fotostock/SuperStock Bible Feast of Passover - What It Means to Christians Bible Feast of Passover A Christian Perspective of the Bible Feast of Passover Paul Visconti / Getty Images By Mary Fairchild Bible Feast of Passover - Pesach: Passover commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, as recorded in the book of Exodus . On Passover, Jews also celebrate the birth of the Jewish nation after being freed by God from captivity.

Today, the Jewish people not only remember an historic event on Passover, but also celebrate in a broad sense, their freedom as Jews. The Hebrew word Pesach means "to pass over." During Passover Jews take part in a meal known as the Seder , which incorporates the retelling of the story of Exodus and God's deliverance from bondage in Egypt. Each participant of the Passover Seder experiences in a personal way, a national celebration of freedom through God's intervention and deliverance. Hag HaMatzah or the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Yom HaBikkurim or Firstfruits are both mentioned in Leviticus 23 as separate feasts, however, today Jews celebrate all three feasts as part of the eight-day Passover holiday. Time of Observance: Today, Passover begins on day 15 of the Hebrew month of Nissan (March or April) and continues for 8 days.

Originally, Passover began at twilight on the fourteenth day of Nissan (Leviticus 23:5), and then the next day, day 15, the Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin and continue for seven days (Leviticus 23:6). • See Bible Feasts Calendar for the actual dates of Passover. About Passover: The story of Passover is recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus . Joseph , son of Jacob , after being sold into slavery in Egypt, was kept by God and greatly blessed. Eventually he was put into a high position—second-in-command to Pharaoh. In time, Joseph moved his entire family to Egypt and protected them there. 400 years later, the Israelites had grown into a people numbering 2 million. There were so many Jews in Egypt that the new Pharaoh was afraid of their power. To maintain control, he turned them into slaves, oppressing them with harsh labor and ruthless treatment. Yet, through a man named Moses (great, great grandson of Jacob), God came to rescue his people.

At the time Moses was born, Pharaoh had ordered the death of all Hebrew males, but God spared Moses when his mother hid him in a basket along the banks of the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter found the baby and decided to raise him as her own. Later Moses fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian for cruelly beating one of his own people. There God appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush and said, "I have seen the misery of my people. I have heard their cries, I care about their suffering, and I have come to rescue them. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:7-10, paraphrased) After making some excuses, Moses finally obeyed God and confronted Pharaoh. But when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, God sent ten plagues to persuade him. With the final plague God promised to strike dead every first-born son in Egypt at midnight on the 15th day of the month of Nissan. But to Moses, the Lord provided instructions so his people would be spared.

Each Hebrew family was to take a Passover lamb, slaughter it, and place some of the blood on the door frames of their homes. When the destroyer passed over Egypt, he would not enter the homes covered by the blood of the Passover lamb. These and other instructions became part of a lasting ordinance from God for the observance of the Passover Feast, so that the generations to come would always remember God's great deliverance . At midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, and that very night Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Up! Leave my people. Go." They left in haste and God led them toward the Red Sea. After a few days Pharaoh changed his mind, and decided to send his army in pursuit. When the Egyptian army reached them at the banks of the Red Sea, the Hebrew people were afraid and cried out to God. Moses answered, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." Moses stretched out his hand and the sea parted , allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground, with a wall of water on either side. And when the Egyptian army followed, it was thrown into confusion.

Moses then stretched out his hand over the sea again and the entire army was swept away, leaving no survivors. Jesus and Passover: In Luke 22, Jesus shared the Passover meal with his apostles saying, "I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16, NLT ) Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover. He is the Lamb of God , sacrificed to set us free from bondage to sin. (John 1:29; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) The blood of Jesus covers and protects us, and his body was broken to free us from eternal death. (1 Corinthians 5:7) In the Jewish tradition a hymn of praise known as the Hallel is sung during the Passover Seder.

In it is Psalm 118:22, speaking of the Messiah: "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone." (NIV) Jesus said in Matthew 21:42, one week before his death, that he himself was the stone the builders rejected. As God commanded the Israelites to always commemorate his great deliverance through the Passover meal, we Christians were instructed by Christ as well, to continually remember his sacrifice through The Lord's Supper or Communion. More Facts About Passover Jews drink four cups of wine at the Seder. The third cup is called the cup of redemption , the same cup of wine taken during the Last Supper . The bread of the Last Supper is the Afikomen of Passover, or the middle Matzah which is pulled out and broken in two. Half is wrapped in white linen and hidden. The children search for the unleavened bread in the white linen. Whoever finds it brings it back to be redeemed for a price. The other half of the bread is eaten, ending the meal.

Question: The Passover is part of the calendar for which religion?
Answer: Jewish