Passover is one of the most significant holidays on the Jewish calendar. It celebrates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt and their freedom to worship God. This year, Passover begins on April 15th and ends on April 23rd. This article will provide an overview of the holiday’s observances and traditions.
What is Passover, and why do Jews celebrate it?
Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. The holiday lasts for eight days and is celebrated in the springtime. Passover is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar, and several special observances and traditions mark it.
One of the most important parts of Passover is the Seder, a dinner that takes place on the first night of the holiday. The Seder includes readings from the Torah and festive songs and prayers. It also features several traditional foods, including matzo (unleavened bread) and maror (bitter herbs).
The history of Passover
According to tradition, God commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt after Pharaoh refused to release them. The Israelites were pursued by the Egyptian army but eventually reached freedom with the help of God.
Another important part of Passover is the observance of the holiday’s commandments or mitzvot. These include abstaining from eating leavened bread (chametz) during the week of Passover and cleaning one’s house to remove all traces of chametz.
Traditional Foods and Drinking
The traditional foods are eaten during Passover to commemorate the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The foods include matzo, unleavened bread, and maror, a bitter herb.
The Seder Plate is used during the Passover meal and contains different symbols representing different aspects of the holiday. The characters on the Seder Plate are Karpas (a vegetable), Charoset (a sweet mixture), Zeroa (a roasted lamb shank bone), Beitzah (an egg), and Haroset (a combination of fruits, nuts, and wine).
During the Passover service, four cups of wine are drunk. The first cup is drunk at the beginning of the service to welcome the holiday. The second cup is drunk after reciting the Hallel prayer. The third cup is drunk after reading the Torah portion about the Exodus from Egypt. The fourth and final cup is drunk at the end of the service.
Passover is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate their Jewish heritage.
Interested In Kosher for Passover cooking? Here’s a list of some highly recommended Passover cookbooks!
Observances and Traditions
The observances and traditions of Passover are many and varied. Here is a guide to some of the most common ones:
The Seder: The Seder is the traditional meal eaten on the first night of Passover. The meal typically includes Matzah, Maror, Karpas, Charoset, Zeroa, and Beitzah.
Matzah: Matzah is unleavened bread that is eaten during Passover. It is made from flour and water that has been mixed and allowed to sit for 18 minutes before being baked.
Maror: Maror is a bitter herb that is eaten during Passover. It symbolizes the bitterness of slavery that the Israelites experienced in Egypt.
Karpas: Karpas is a vegetable that is eaten during Passover. It symbolizes the freshness of springtime.
Charoset: Charoset is a sweet, pudding-like dish eaten during Passover. It symbolizes the mortar used by the Israelites to build Pharaoh’s pyramids.
Zeroa: Zeroa is a roasted lamb shank bone eaten during Passover. It symbolizes the Paschal Lamb that was sacrificed by the Israelites when they left Egypt.
Beitzah: Beitzah is an egg that is eaten during Passover. It symbolizes the new life that awaited the Israelites after they left Egypt.
Seder Plate: The Seder Plate is a special plate used during the Seder meal. It includes six items that represent different aspects of the Passover story. (Click here to get your very own Seder Plate!)
Afikoman: The Afikoman is a piece of Matzah hidden during the Seder meal. It is typically wrapped in a napkin and placed somewhere in the house. Children try to find it and then receive a prize for doing so. (Here’s one of our favorites Afikoman Bag)
Passover Songs: Passover songs are traditional songs sung during the Seder meal. They help to teach the story of Passover to children.
Themes of Freedom and Redemption: The themes of freedom and redemption are central to the observances and traditions of Passover. They remind Jewish of the importance of their values and their role in their lives.
Conclusion
That’s it for our guide to Passover 2022. We hope you found this information helpful and that it gave you a better understanding of the holiday. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below – we would love to hear from you!
Looking for some more Cool Passover gifts?
Make sure you check out our list!
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