History & Traditions of Passover

This year Passover begins at sunset on Monday, March 25, and lasts until Tuesday night, April 2.

It's a time when Jews across the world will come together to retell the Exodus story over four cups of wine (or grape juice for those who can't indulge), and of course, a large, festive feast.

As the story goes, during their flight from slavery, the Jews didn't have enough time for their dough to rise, resulting in a flaky cracker that's eaten instead of bread for a full week during Passover.

Here’s an excerpt about the history of the holiday from Holidays.net: 

About 3000 years ago the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians under the rule of the Pharaoh Ramses II.

According to the Book of Exodus, Moses, a simple Jewish shepherd, was instructed by God to go to the pharaoh and demand the freedom of his people

Moses' plea of “let my people go” was ignored. Moses warned the Pharaoh that God would send severe punishments to the people of Egypt if the Israelites weren’t freed. Again the Pharaoh ignored Moses' request of freedom.

In response God unleashed a series of 10 terrible plagues on the people of Egypt: blood; frogs; lice (vermin); wild beasts (flies); blight (cattle disease); boils; hail; locusts; darkness and slaying of the first born.

The holiday's name - Pesach, meaning "passing over" or "protection" in Hebrew - is derived from the instructions given to Moses by God. In order to encourage the Pharaoh to free the Israelites, God intended to kill the first-born of both man and beast.

To protect themselves the Israelites were told to mark their dwellings with lamb's blood so that God could identify and "pass over" their homes.

According to the book of Exodus, the Pharaoh remained unconvinced and refused to free the Jewish slaves - until the last plague.

When the Pharaoh finally agreed to freedom, the Israelites left their homes so quickly that there wasn't even time to bake their breads. So they packed the raw dough to take with them on their journey.

As they fled through the desert they’d quickly bake the dough in the hot sun into hard crackers called matzohs. Today to commemorate this event those of Jewish faith eat matzoh in place of bread during Passover

Though the Jews were now free, their liberation was incomplete. The Pharaoh's army chased them through the desert toward the Red Sea. When the Jews reached the sea they were trapped.

It was then that a miracle occurred, according to the book of Exodus. The waves of the Red Sea parted and the Israelites were able to cross to the other side.

As soon as all of them reached the other side, the sea closed, trapping the Pharaoh's army as the waves closed upon them

Then as the Israelites watched the waters of the Red Sea sweep away the Pharaoh's army, they realized they were finally free.

Passover Traditions
The diet changes go beyond bread, however, and depend on family tradition. As a general rule, just look for the “Kosher for Passover” label, which spreads to more products year after year.

Prior to the holiday Jews clean their homes and get rid of chametz - food that's forbidden during Passover.

Chametz is any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt or their derivatives, which has leavened (risen). As commanded by the Torah, if a food contains even a trace of chametz, then it can't be eaten, can't derive benefit from it and can't be inpossession of any of it for all of the days of Passover.

To be certain that a product is kosher for Passover, it must have rabbinical certification. Otherwise it's possible it contains chametz ingredients, or traces of chametz if it was processed on the same equipment as chametz products. Thus, unless a product is certified Kosher for Passover, it's considered chametz.

In addition, matzah used all year round might be pure chametz, and not for Passover use. Only matzahs baked especially for Passover may be used on Passover.

Kitchen utensils and dishware normally used in the home are also not to be used during Passover.

Special dishes and utensils for the Passover holiday are taken out of storage, cleaned and used.

The Seder
On the first two nights of Passover, a Seder is held. This is when the story of Passover is told with the reading of the Haggadah. Some families even dress up and act out the story.

Songs are sung, including "Dayenu," and as tradition, children sing the Four Questions, or Ma Nishtana. During the course of the night, four cups of wine are consumed to celebrate freedom.

Bitter herbs are also eaten as a reminder of the pain of the Jewish slaves.

The middle of the holiday - from March 28 to 31 - is an intermediate period, or Chol HaMoed, when there are fewer restrictions. On these days more observant Jews are allowed to drive and use electronics, and in rare instances, work.

The final two days of Passover fall on April 1 and 2, and are considered Holy Days.

Educational Fun
For some educational fun with the kids, check out the Rugrats Passover special here.

Sources: Chabad.org, Holidays.net, Aish.com, Five Towns Patch, Brentwood (CA) Patch

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