Pesach

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the three major festivals of ancient Israel and commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. Its name comes from the miracle in which God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague. Centered on the family or communal celebration of the seder (ritual meal), Passover is one of the most beloved of all Jewish holidays. It's themes are about redemption and the release from bondage.

HISTORY

CUSTOMS

SEDER PLATE

History

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. In the Jewish context, 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), Passover is one of the three ancient Israelite pilgrimage festivals, during which people 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 Passover shifted to the ritual meal, called the seder, which normally takes place at home.

Mural designed by: Nassa Selwyn

Customs

How is Passover Celebrated Today

Seder

The central ritual of Passover is the seder, a carefully choreographed ritual meal that typically takes place in the home. A number of symbolic foods are laid out on the table, of which the most important is the matzah, the unleavened “bread of affliction.” The seder follows a script laid out in the Haggadah, a book that tells the story of the redemption from Egypt. Learn about the meaning of the foods in the Passover seder below.

Songs

The Song of Songs is one of the most iconic prayers sung at Passover in synagogue services and is a metaphor for Divine Love.

At home, as part of the seder dinner, songs are sung that are fun for the whole family, including Chad Gadya, Dayenu, Echad Mi Yodeya, Ma Nishtanah and more!

Customary Foods

In addition to the specific foods for the seder - matzah, zeroa (shank bone), beitzah (egg), maror and chazeret (bitter herbs), charoset and karpas (vegetables) which all have symbolic meaning as outlined below on the seder plate.

Traditional foods served also can include matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, potato kugel, brisket, flourless desserts and wine.

Customs

Not eating leavened bread during Pesach, removing all leavened products from the home, listening to the Haggadah, attending a Passover seder, singing songs, leaving one glass of wine out for Elijah, leaving the door open for Elijah, hiding the matzah (afikomen).

MAZAH

Matzot is an unleavened bread filled with symbolism. In biblical times of the Exodus from Egypt when the Israelites did not have enough time for their bread to rise. Matzot is considered lechem oni, “poor man’s bread” which reminds us to be humble in contrast to risen bread containing leaven which can symbolize pride with the rising of the dough. Three pieces of matzot are placed on the seder table, so that we can break one (as a slave would), and still have two whole matzot over which to recite the Hamotzi blessing (as required on Shabbat and holidays). The matzot are symbolic of the three groups of Jews: Priests, Levites and Israelites.

Seder Plate