What Is Passover

Passover is a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The holiday is also known as Pesach in Hebrew, which means "to pass over," referring to the tenth plague that God inflicted upon the Egyptians, in which the firstborn of every household was killed, while the Israelites were spared.

Passover typically lasts for eight days and is observed in the springtime. During this time, Jewish people around the world gather with family and friends to participate in a variety of traditions and rituals, which include the Seder meal and the consumption of unleavened bread known as matzah.

The Seder meal, which is typically held on the first two nights of Passover, is a ceremonial meal that includes the retelling of the story of the exodus from Egypt, as well as the consumption of specific foods and drinks that are symbolic of different aspects of the Passover story. These foods include matzah, bitter herbs, and charoset, a sweet mixture of fruits and nuts.

Throughout the Passover holiday, Jewish people also abstain from consuming any food that contains leavened ingredients, known as chametz. This practice is meant to symbolize the haste with which the Israelites fled from Egypt, without having time to let their bread rise.

Passover is a time of reflection and celebration for the Jewish community, and its traditions have been passed down through generations for thousands of years.