Who is passover celebrated by

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Independent Living. Jewish Federation Plaza. Affordable Independent Living. This is a story known as the Exodus. This year it begins on the evening of March Family and friends come together to eat traditional dishes. They put the dough in travelling sacks and as they crossed the desert, the hot sun baked the dough into the thin, hard matzah. At the beginning of the Seder meal, one piece of the matzah is broken and a piece of it is hidden.

Due to the pandemic celebrations are more challenging, but let's see how Passover celebrations have usually occurred in the past. Any chametz in his possession, or utensils used to prepare food with chametz, have to be temporarily 'sold' to non-Jews. They can be bought back after the holiday. You can even sell your chametz online!

The day before Passover begins the Fast of the Firstborn is observed. All first born males fast on this day to celebrate their escape from the Plague of the First Born. The highlight of Passover observance takes place on the first two nights, when friends and family gather together for ritual seder meals. Seder means 'order' and the ceremonies are arranged in a specific order. Special plates and cutlery are used which are kept exclusively for Passover.

Learning Zone video: Buying kosher food for Pesach. The Haggadah is a book which tells in fourteen steps the story of the Jewish experience in Egypt and of the Exodus and revelation of God. As the story of each of the ten plagues is read out a drop of wine is spilt to remind Jews that their liberation was tinged with sadness at the suffering of the Egyptians.

The haggadah also contains songs, blessings, psalms and Four Questions. These four questions are:. Unleavened bread or matzo is eaten to remember the Exodus when the Israelites fled Egypt with their dough to which they had not yet added yeast.

Bitter herbs, usually horseradish, are included in the meal to represent the bitterness of slavery. At the beginning of the meal a piece of potato is dipped in salt water to recall the tears the Jews shed as slaves. In ancient times, people who were free reclined on sofas while they ate. Today cushions are placed on chairs to symbolise freedom and relaxation, in contrast to slavery.

Usually the youngest person present will ask the questions and the father will respond. The paradox of this is that these four questions should be asked spontaneously, but celebrations cannot happen unless they are asked! Children are central to Passover proceedings and symbolise the continuity of the Jewish people. Customs are designed to hold their attention. There's the hunt for the afikomen , where a piece of matzoh is hidden which children have to find and hold 'ransom' until a reward is given.

Each of the components of the meal is symbolic. The food is eaten in ritual order and its meaning and symbolism is discussed. Passover is also called The Festival of Freedom and is a celebration of freedom, not just in Biblical times, but its importance to the individual today and throughout history. Jews believe freedom to be one of the basic human rights. Readings about contemporary slavery or oppression to show solidarity with the oppressed may be included in some traditions although not in Orthodox Jewish households.

Passover can be called the Festival of Spring and was an agricultural festival which marked the beginning of the cycle of production and harvest during the time the Jews lived in ancient Palestine. Passover is also a pilgrim festival. It is one of the three occasions in the year when, according to the commandments of the Torah , Jews were to go to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Passover began as a ceremony celebrated in the home, but once the Jews settled in Jerusalem they constructed the Temple and the celebrations moved there. Today, Passover celebrations continue to be focussed on the home. This makes Passover the most popular Jewish holiday.

Families travel great distances to be together at Passover. In the synagogue there are special readings for each day of the festival. On following days, readings tell of the celebrations after the Children of Israel had crossed the River Jordan; of Moses receiving the 10 Commandments and God's covenant with the Israelites; of the resurrection of the valley of dry bones symbolising the spiritual rebirth of Israel; of the departure from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea; and a summary of the laws and rituals for Passover.

On the last day of Passover a passage from the Book of Isaiah is read which tells of the Messianic era or 'Passover of the Future'. Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled.

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