Passover (Pesach) — The Festival of Freedom

Passover (Pesach) commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt — the foundational narrative of Jewish identity. For eight days (seven in Israel), Jews celebrate with the seder, matzah, and the retelling of the story of liberation.

The Passover Story

The story of Passover begins in the Book of Exodus. The Israelites, enslaved in Egypt for generations, cried out to God for deliverance. God sent Moses to Pharaoh with the message: "Let my people go." When Pharaoh refused, God visited ten plagues upon Egypt — water turning to blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the slaying of the firstborn.

On the night of the final plague, the Israelites were commanded to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb so the plague would "pass over" their homes — giving the holiday its name. They left Egypt in such haste that their bread dough had no time to rise, which is why we eat matzah (unleavened bread) during the holiday.

The Passover Seder

The seder is the centerpiece of Passover — a festive meal held on the first two nights (one night in Israel) that follows a specific order of rituals, blessings, songs, and storytelling. The word "seder" means "order."

The Haggadah

The Haggadah is the guidebook for the seder, retelling the Exodus from Egypt and walking participants through every ritual — from the first cup of wine to the final songs.

Four Cups of Wine

Each cup represents one of the four expressions of redemption that God promised the Israelites, marking the stages of liberation from slavery to freedom.

The Seder Plate

The seder plate holds symbolic foods — the shank bone (zeroa), egg (beitzah), bitter herbs (maror), charoset, karpas (vegetable), and chazeret — each representing an element of the Exodus story.

Matzah — Bread of Freedom

Matzah recalls the haste of the Exodus — the Israelites left Egypt so quickly their bread had no time to rise. Eating matzah is a central mitzvah of Passover.

Chametz & Selling Chametz Before Passover

One of the most important Passover preparations is the removal of chametz — any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt that has come into contact with water and been allowed to ferment and rise. During the eight days of Passover, it is forbidden to eat, own, or benefit from chametz.

In the weeks before Passover, families thoroughly clean their homes and kitchens. On the night before the seder, a ceremonial search for chametz (bedikat chametz) is conducted by candlelight, and the following morning any remaining chametz is burned (biur chametz).

Many organizations offer the ability to sell your chametz online:

Key Passover Observances

No Chametz: For eight days, all leavened bread and grain products are forbidden.
The Seder: Held on the first two nights, following the Haggadah through 15 steps.
The Four Questions: Traditionally asked by the youngest child — the Mah Nishtanah.
Chol HaMoed: The intermediate days of Passover — semi-festive days.
Seventh Day — Splitting of the Sea: Commemorates the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea.