Passover - Pesach

Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance. Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday.

Passover Seder

The Passover Seder is a Jewish ritual feast held on the first night of the Jewish Holiday. Outside of Israel, the Seder is held twice, on the first and second nights of Passover (the 15th and 16th days of Nisan). According to the Gregorian calendar, the holiday usually comes out in April.

Chametz

The prohibitions take effect around late morning on the eve of Passover, or the 14th of Nisan. Chametz is permitted again at nightfall after the final day of Passover. Traditional Jewish homes are generally in a state of chaos in the days and weeks leading up to Passover, as the house must be cleaned of crumbs in every nook and cranny

Korban Pesach

Korban Pesach (=Hebrew) "sacrifice of Passover" also known as the "Paschal Lamb" is the sacrifice that the Torah mandates to be brought on the eve of Passover, and eaten on the first night of the holiday with bitter herbs and matzo. According to the Torah, it was first offered on the night of the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt.

Matzah

Matza is a cracker-like bread made of white plain flour, and water. The matza is the "official" food of Passover. The dough is pricked in several places and not allowed to rise before or during baking, thereby producing a hard, flat bread.

Haggadah of Pesach

The Haggadah (Hebrew: הגדה) is a Jewish religious text that sets out the order of the Passover Seder. Haggadah, meaning "telling," is a fulfillment of the scriptural commandment to each Jew to "tell your son" about the Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus in the Torah.

4 cups of wine

The Four Cups of wine used in the Passover Seder signify the four distinct redemptions promised by God to the Jews as told in Exodus 6:6-7. (1) "I will take you out of Egypt", (2) "I will deliver you from Egyptian slavery", (3) "I will redeem you with a demonstration of my power", and (4) "I will acquire you as a nation".

Afikoman

Afikoman based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion, meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert" is a piece of Matzah which is hidden at the start of the Passover Seder and is eaten at the end of the festive meal.

Fast of the First Born

It is an ancient and widespread custom for the first born to fast on the day before Passover. This commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn Jewish sons from the plague which struck down the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.

Passover Songs

Avadim Hayinu, Mah Nishtanah (The 4 Questions), Ve'hee she'omdo, Bitzeis Yisroel Mimtzrayim, Min Hameitzar, Chad Gadyoh, Breaking the Middle Matzah, The 10 Plagues of Pesach, Elijah’s Song, The Seder Plate Song, Eser Makkot (The Ten Plagues) and more..