History and Meaning
Passover (Pesach) is a Jewish holiday that lasts eight days, commemorating the time when the Israelites fled Pharaoh Ramses II in Egypt. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, and Moses was an important leader. Moses begged the Pharaoh to let him and his people be free, but the Pharaoh refused. Then, according to Jewish history, God struck the people of Egypt with 10 terrible plagues.
- Wild beasts (cows got sick)
- Slaying of the first born
Finally, Pharaoh let the Israelites go. But they had to leave so quickly that they did not have time to let their bread rise. That is why Jews eat flat matzo (not bread, which rises) during Passover.
Even though Pharaoh had said he would let the Israelites go, he sent his army after them as soon as they tried to leave Egypt. The army chased the Israelites through the desert. When the Israelites reached the Red Sea, they thought they were stuck with no way across. But then, as a miracle, the sea parted, and the Israelites crossed through safely. The sea closed on the army, and the Israelites escaped.
On the first one or two nights of Pesach, Jews eat a special meal called a seder. During Passover, Jews use special dishes and silverware, and eat special foods. All foods with yeast are eaten or given away before Passover begins.
The seder has special rituals and traditions. At the center of the table is a seder plate, which holds several traditional foods. On the plate there is:
- Charoset (chopped apples with cinnamon and nuts): Represents the bricks the Israelite slaves used to build the pyramids
- Parsley (and salt water to dip it in): Symbolizes springtime and the tears shed by the slaves
- A roasted egg: Also symbolizes springtime
- A shank bone: Represents the sacrificial lamb
- Bitter herbs (like horseradish): Represents the bitterness of slavery
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Another seder tradition is the Four Questions. They are asked by the youngest child at the seder. The questions are :
Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matzo, but on this night we eat only matzo?
It reminds us that the Jews had no time for the bread to rise so they baked it in the sun in the desert and had matzo.
Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night we eat only bitter herbs?
They remind us of the bitterness of slavery.
Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once, but on this night we dip them twice?
The bitter herbs are dipped in charoset, which represents the bitterness of slavery. The parsley is dipped in salt water to remind us of the new life in spring but the bitterness of tears.
Why is it that on all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we eat in a reclining position?
This is to remind us of the freedom that we have now but did not always have.
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After the seder, the children hunt for the afikomen, a piece of matzo hidden by an adult. Often, the child that finds it wins a prize.
Passover is a family holiday. Invite someone to celebrate with you or join a celebration. You can try matzo or make a seder plate to learn about other cultures.
As with other Jewish holidays, the date of Passover changes every year. This is because the traditional Jewish calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, which are a little different from the months on our usual calendar.
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Author: Katie Ransohoff, high school student writer