Passover

Passover, also called Pasch or Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, the holiday remembers when the Israelites were freed from Egypt after many difficulties. The story tells of how God sent ten plagues to Egypt, and the final plague was the death of the firstborn children. However, the Israelites were saved when they marked their doors with lamb's blood, causing God to "pass over" their homes — which is why the holiday is called Passover.

During Passover, Jewish families come together for a special meal called a Passover Seder. At the Seder, they read from a book called the Haggadah, which tells the story of the Exodus. One important tradition is not eating any leavened foods, called chametz, during the holiday. Instead, they eat bread made without yeast called matzah.

Passover begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. Because the Jewish calendar is set to match the solar calendar, the holiday can start on different days of the week. It always begins at sunset the day before, so families gather together for special meals and ceremonies to remember this important event in their history.

Etymology

The word "Passover" comes from the Hebrew word Pesach. This term is linked to the story of the Exodus, when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. According to the Bible, God told the Israelites to mark their doors with the blood of a lamb. When God passed through Egypt to punish the Egyptians, He "passed over" the houses marked with the lamb's blood, sparing the people inside.

The lamb was an important part of the Passover celebration. The Israelites were instructed to choose a lamb four days before their escape and carefully check it for any flaws. On the evening of their departure, they cooked and ate the lamb together as a family.

Origins and theories

Passover is believed to have started as a combination of two different traditions: a ritual to protect homes and a celebration of the barley harvest in the Land of Israel. The Passover sacrifice, which involved marking homes with the blood of a lamb, may have originally been a way to keep evil spirits away. Over time, this tradition merged with the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt, and it also became linked to a spring festival celebrating the harvest of barley. This blend of traditions helped shape the Passover we know today.

Biblical narrative

In the Book of Exodus

Further information: Plagues of Egypt

In the Book of Exodus, the Israelites were enslaved in ancient Egypt. Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, appeared to Moses in a burning bush and told him to speak to the Pharaoh. To show his power, Yahweh sent a series of ten plagues on the Egyptians, including the death of the firstborn.

Before this final plague, God told Moses to have the Israelites mark their doors with the blood of a lamb. This would save them from the plague. The Israelites were also told to eat the lamb that night with unleavened bread, known as matzah, and bitter herbs, known as maror. They were to eat it quickly, dressed and ready to leave.

The Passover in other biblical passages

The Passover is also called the "festival of unleavened bread" in the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Leviticus tells how the Passover should be kept. It must be remembered every year as a way to honor God for saving the Israelites from Egypt.

In extra-biblical sources

Other ancient writings, like letters from Elephantine and works by writers such as Josephus and Philo, help us understand more about how the Passover was celebrated. They talk about when the lamb was killed and eaten, and what happened during the meal.

Date and duration

See also: Hebrew calendar and Yom tov sheni shel galuyot

Passover starts on the 15th day of the month of Nisan, which usually falls between March 26 and April 25 on the Gregorian calendar. The holiday begins in the evening after the 14th day of Nisan, with a special meal called a seder. Passover is a spring celebration, often starting on the night of a full moon after the northern vernal equinox.

In Israel, Passover lasts seven days, with the first and last days as holidays. Jews living outside of Israel celebrate for eight days. Some groups, like Karaites and Samaritans, follow different calendar traditions, which can affect the exact dates of the holiday.

Prohibition of chametz

See also: Chametz § Removal of chametz, and Bedikat Chametz

Leaven, called chametz in Hebrew (Hebrew: חמץ ḥamets), is made from certain grains mixed with water and left to stand for a short time. During Passover, it is forbidden for Jewish people to eat, keep, or even own chametz. This includes foods made with yeast or anything that has fermented.

Before Passover begins, Jewish families clean their homes thoroughly to remove all chametz. They also use special sets of dishes and utensils that have never touched leaven. On the night before Passover, families perform a special search called bedikat chametz for any remaining chametz, using candlelight, a feather, and a wooden spoon. After the search, any found chametz is usually burned the next morning.

Morning of 14th of Nisan

Note that if the 14th of Nisan is Shabbat, many of the below will be celebrated on the 13th instead due to restrictions in place during Shabbat.

Fast of the Firstborn

Main articles: Fast of the Firstborn and siyum

On the day preceding the first Passover seder (or on Thursday morning preceding the seder, when the first seder falls on Motza'ei Shabbat), firstborn sons are commanded to celebrate the Fast of the Firstborn. However, it is customary for synagogues to conduct a siyum (ceremony marking the completion of a section of Torah learning) right after morning prayers, and the celebratory meal that follows cancels the firstborn's obligation to fast.

Burning and nullification of leaven

On the morning of the 14th of Nisan, any leavened products that remain in the householder's possession, along with the 10 morsels of bread from the previous night's search, are burned (s'rayfat chametz). The head of the household repeats the declaration of biyur chametz, declaring any chametz that may not have been found to be null and void "as the dust of the earth".

The historic Passover sacrifice has not been brought following the Romans' destruction of the Second Temple approximately two thousand years ago, and it is therefore still not part of the modern Jewish holiday.

Not eating matzah from sunrise until sunset (day before Passover)

Even matzot that are kosher for Passover cannot be eaten all day on during the daylight hours before Passover eve.

Passover sacrifice

During ancient times, a special lamb was a key part of Passover. Families would bring this lamb to the Temple and eat it together during a special meal called the Seder. The lamb had to be prepared in a certain way and eaten with special foods.

Today, since the Temple is no longer standing, people cannot make this lamb offering. Instead, they remember it with symbolic foods and readings during their Passover meals.

Matzah

Main article: Matzah

A key symbol of Passover is matzah, a special flatbread made only from flour and water. It is baked quickly so it doesn’t rise, remembering how the Israelites left Egypt in a hurry and had no time to let their bread rise. Eating matzah during Passover helps remind people of their history and the importance of humility and freedom.

During the holiday, many families enjoy matzah as part of a special dinner called the Passover Seder. Some people make matzah by hand, while others use machines. No matter how it’s made, matzah is prepared with great care to keep it free from any ingredients that would make it rise.

Passover seder

Jewish families gather for a special dinner called a seder on the first night of Passover. During this meal, they retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt using a text called the Haggadah. The seder has a specific order with 15 parts, including recitations, blessings, and the eating of symbolic foods like matzah and bitter herbs.

Children play an important role in the seder by asking questions about the traditions, which helps everyone discuss the meanings behind the symbols and the story of the Exodus. One key tradition involves hiding a piece of matzah called the afikoman, which the children help find as a fun part of the evening. The seder often ends with songs and prayers, including a wish for "Next year in Jerusalem."

Hallel

During Passover, Jews read special prayers called Hallel. These prayers are from the Psalms and thank God for helping the Israelites. On the first day of Passover, people read all of Hallel. But during the rest of the holiday, they only read half of it. This tradition helps people show thanks and celebrate the important story of Passover. It is similar to how prayers are read on other holidays like Shavuot and Succot.

Counting of the Omer

Main article: Counting of the Omer

Starting on the second night of Passover, Jews begin a special practice called the Counting of the Omer. This is a way to count the days until the holiday of Shavuot, which comes 50 days later. Each night, after the evening prayer service, people say a blessing and count the day of the Omer. For example, on the first night, they say, "Today is the first day in the Omer," and on the second night, "Today is the second day in the Omer."

One reason for this counting is to show the link between Passover and Shavuot. Passover celebrates the time when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, and Shavuot marks when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The counting helps remind people of this journey from physical freedom to spiritual freedom.

Chol HaMoed: The intermediate days of Passover

In Israel, Passover lasts for seven days, with the first and last days being major Jewish holidays. Outside Israel, many communities observe Passover for eight days, with the first two and last two days as major holidays. The intermediate days, known as Chol HaMoed, are semi-festive and a good time for family outings and picnics. People enjoy foods like matzah, hardboiled eggs, fruits, and special Passover treats such as macaroons and homemade candies.

Passover cooking often uses special ingredients. For example, Passover cakes use potato starch or special Passover flour made from matzah instead of regular flour. Cookies might use matzah farfel or ground nuts. Some families enjoy borsht, a soup made with beets, especially those with Eastern European backgrounds. In Israel, some families use a special pot called a Wonder Pot to cook meals if they cannot use their regular ovens.

Seventh day of Passover

Shevi'i shel Pesach (שביעי של פסח, 'seventh [day] of Passover') is a special Jewish holiday, with unique prayer services and joyful meals. Outside of Israel, people in the Jewish diaspora celebrate this day on both the seventh and eighth days of Passover. This day marks when the Children of Israel came to the Red Sea and saw the amazing event known as the "Splitting of the Sea" (Passage of the Red Sea).

Hasidic leaders, called Rebbes, often gather their followers for a special meeting called a tish on this night. They place a cup of water on the table and talk about the miracle of the sea splitting, sharing songs of thanks and praise.

Second Passover

The "Second Passover" (Pesach Sheni) is a special day mentioned in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Numbers. It occurs on the 14th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar and gives people another chance to celebrate if they couldn't do so at the right time because of ritual impurity or being far from Jerusalem.

Today, this day is a very minor holiday. Some communities choose not to say a special penitential prayer called Tachanun, and many people enjoy eating a piece of matzah that night, though this is more of a custom than a rule.

Notable events on Passover

Some important events in history happened during Passover. In ancient times, Isaac was born on this holiday. Many years later, the Exodus happened when the Israelites left Egypt after being protected by the blood of a lamb.

In more recent times, in 1979, on Passover night, the new government in Uganda allowed people to freely practice Judaism again after years of restriction.

Traditional foods

During Passover, Jewish families eat special foods because their homes are free of leaven (chametz) for eight days. Popular foods include Matzah brei, which is matzo fried with egg, and Charoset, a sweet mixture that reminds us of the mortar used by the Israelites in Egypt. Other traditional dishes are Chrain, a horseradish and beet relish, and Gefilte fish, made from ground fish.

Different Jewish groups have their own Passover foods. For example, Sephardi Jews enjoy Kafteikas di prasa, fried balls with leeks and meat, and Mina, a pie made with matzot. Spring vegetables like artichoke and fava beans are also common during this holiday.

Related celebrations, sermons, liturgy, and song in other religions

The story of freedom during Passover has inspired many religious songs and prayers, including spirituals in the African-American community. The Saint Thomas Syrian Christians celebrate Pesaha on Maundy Thursday, a tradition that includes eating Pesaha Appam. The Samaritan religion also has its own version of Passover based on the Samaritan Pentateuch.

Christianity celebrates Easter around the same time as Passover because of the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion. In Islam, Ashura marks Moses' escape from Egypt with fasting.

Environmental links

Some people think Passover teaches us important lessons about taking care of our planet, especially today when we face challenges like climate change. Rabbi Yonatan Neril, who leads the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, suggests that the problems we face with climate change are similar to the hardships the Israelites faced in ancient Egypt. He compares the Plagues of Egypt to modern environmental issues and encourages us to change our habits, just as the Pharaoh needed to change his ways. Scientists have found clues that climate shifts during the time of Ramesses II might have affected the Nile River, possibly leading to events described as plagues, such as a red algae bloom.