Passover

Passover is a big Jewish holiday.

It tells a story of freedom. Long ago, people were slaves in Egypt. They had to leave. God helped them go free. During this time, families eat special food. They do not eat bread that rises.

Instead, they eat flat bread called matzah. Families also read a book called the Haggadah. This helps them remember the story. It is a very important time for many people.

Passover is a major Jewish holiday. It is also called Pesach. This holiday celebrates the Exodus. This is when the Israelites left slavery in Egypt.

The story comes from the Book of Exodus. In the story, God sent ten plagues to Egypt. The last plague was very serious. God told the Israelites to mark their doors with lamb's blood. When the Angel of Death saw the blood, he would pass over those homes. This is why the holiday is called Passover.

Families celebrate with a special meal called a Seder. During this meal, they read from a book called the Haggadah. This book tells the story of the Exodus.

People also follow special rules for food. They do not eat leavened food. This is food that rises, like regular bread. Instead, they eat flat bread called matzah.

They may also eat bitter herbs. The holiday starts on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. It begins at sunset. This is a time to remember how people became free.

Passover is a major Jewish holiday. It is also known as Pesach or Pasch. This festival celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. The holiday is a way to remember how people became free. Many people find this story very important to their faith. It is a time for families to come together and remember their history.

The story comes from the Book of Exodus. In this account, God sent ten plagues upon Egypt. The final plague was the death of the firstborn. Before this happened, God told the Israelites to do something special. They were to slaughter a lamb and mark their doorframes with its blood.

When the Angel of Death saw the blood, he would pass over those homes. This is how the name Passover came to be. This event allowed the Israelites to escape from Egypt.

Scholars have different ideas about where Passover began. Some believe it grew from older rituals used to protect a home. These rituals might have been used by groups living in the land before the Israelites.

Other theories suggest it merged with a spring harvest festival. This festival was connected to the barley harvest in the land of Israel. These different traditions may have joined together to form the holiday we know today. This shows how long these traditions have been part of human history.

There are many specific rules for how to observe the holiday. The holiday begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan.

Because the Hebrew day starts at sunset, the holiday begins the evening before. For example, in 2026, Pesach starts at sundown on April 1. During this time, people do not eat leavened foods called chametz. Instead, they eat flat bread called matzah.

They might also eat bitter herbs during their meals.

Families celebrate with a special meal called a Seder. During the Seder, they read from a book called the Haggadah.

This book tells the story of the Exodus so that children can learn it. The meal often includes many different foods on a special plate.

Some people eat matzah brei or other special dishes. By following these customs, people keep their traditions alive. It is a way to connect the past to the present day.

Passover, known in Hebrew as Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. This holiday celebrates the Exodus, which is the departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The name "Passover" is a literal translation of the Hebrew term. It refers to the event where the Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Hebrews. This tradition serves as a memorial of the liberation from bondage. It is a central event in the history of the Jewish people.

The biblical account of Passover is found in the Book of Exodus. In this narrative, the Israelites were enslaved by a Pharaoh in Egypt. To secure their freedom, God sent ten plagues upon the Egyptian people. The tenth and final plague involved the death of all firstborn individuals.

Before this occurred, Moses was commanded to instruct the Israelites to slaughter a lamb. They were to mark their doorframes and lintels with the lamb's blood. When the Angel of Death saw this sign, he would pass over those specific houses. This act ensured the plague would not enter their homes, allowing them to remain safe.

Scholars suggest that the origins of Passover may be more complex than the biblical story alone. One theory is that it evolved from earlier, pre-Israelite rituals. Some researchers believe it may have started as an apotropaic ritual. An apotropaic rite is a ceremony intended to turn away evil or protect a home. In these ancient rites, blood from a sheep might have been used to protect a clan. Another hypothesis suggests a merger with an agricultural harvest festival. This theory proposes that the Exodus narrative was combined with a Canaanite spring festival. This spring festival was likely connected to the barley harvest in the Land of Israel.

The timing of Passover is tied to the Hebrew calendar. It begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan. Because the Hebrew day starts at sunset, the holiday actually begins the evening before.

The Rabbinical Jewish calendar uses adjustments to align with the solar calendar. This ensures that 15 Nisan always falls on a Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. For instance, in 2026, the 15th of Nisan falls on Thursday, April 2. Consequently, the holiday will begin at sundown on Wednesday, April 1.

Observing Passover involves strict dietary regulations regarding leavened food. This type of food is called chametz. Jews are forbidden from possessing or eating chametz during the holiday.

Instead, many people eat matzah, which is an unleavened flatbread. There are different ways to make this bread, such as machine-made or hand-made shmura matzah.

The removal of leaven is a significant preparation for the festival. Some families even perform a ritual to burn or dispose of chametz before the holiday starts.

A central part of the celebration is the Passover Seder. This is a ritual meal where the Exodus story is recounted.

Participants read from a standardized text called the Haggadah. The Haggadah fulfills the command to tell the story to the next generation. The Seder meal includes a special plate containing various symbolic foods.

These can include bitter herbs, known as maror, to represent the bitterness of slavery.

Some people also enjoy specific dishes like matzah brei.

Historically, the way Passover was celebrated changed over time. In the original biblical period, the Paschal lamb was sacrificed in individual homes. Once the Israelites reached the wilderness and the Tabernacle was established, the practice changed. The sacrifices were then moved to the door of the Tabernacle. This meant that blood could no longer be smeared on individual doorposts. In later eras, such as when King Josiah restored the festival, the celebrations became very organized. Today, Passover remains a vital connection to ancient history and religious identity.