Understanding Passover

Even though I have several Jewish friends and colleagues, I’ve never fully understood Jewish holidays.  Sure, I get Hanukkah and Yom Kippur generally, but only enough to know when it is and perhaps the proper greeting.  I have a great respect for all cultures and believe there is something to be learned from them all.  Thus, I thought it important to learn more about the Jewish holiday, Passover – which starts at sundown today.

From Wikipedia:

Passover is a Jewish holy day and festival commemorating the Hebrews’ escape from enslavement in Egypt.

Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan (equivalent to March and April), the first month of the Hebrew calendar‘s festival year according to the Hebrew Bible.

In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Hebrew slaves, with the tenth plague being the killing of all of the firstborn, from the Pharaoh’s son to the firstborn of the dungeon captive, to the firstborn of cattle.

The Hebrews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term “passover.”  When Pharaoh freed the Hebrews, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is called “The Festival of the Unleavened Bread.”  Matza (unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday. This bread that is flat and unrisen is called matzo.

Hebrew Passover Greetings and Their English Translations

• Happy Pesach – Happy Passover
• Gut Yomtov – Happy Holiday
  • Response – Gut Yomtov, Gut Yohr — Happy Holiday, Happy Year
• Chag Sameach – Happy Holiday
• Chag Pesach Sameach — Happy Passover
• Chag Kasher V’Same’ach – Wishing you a Happy and Kosher Holiday
• Chag Kashruth Pesach – Happy Kosher Passover or Happy Kosher Pesach

More Services