Passover (in Hebrew: Pesach - pronounced PAY-sach) is the Biblical holiday that commemorates the Hebrews’ rapid departure from ancient Egypt. The Jews had just endured over 200 years of exile, including several decades of torturous slave labor, and now G-d was going to fulfill His promise to Abraham—the promise to redeem the Jews and do justice to their slave-masters.
Right before the Exodus, G-d commands the Jews to sacrifice one lamb per family and mark the Jewish doorposts with its blood. This would be a sign for G-d to "pass over" the Jewish homes as He slew the Egyptian firstborn—the last of ten supernatural attacks on the Egyptians. This is the origin of the name "Passover."
It is a Spring holiday and starts on the 15th of Nissan (usually sometime in April) and lasts for eight days (in Israel, seven days). The first two and last two days (in Israel, only the first and last day) are major holidays, that means on these days it is forbidden to work, drive, turn on or off a light, etc. The middle days are called Chol Hamoed.
In Hebrew, Egypt is Mitzrayim—etymologically related to meitzarim, or borders. The moral of the Exodus story is that we all can escape our personal EgyptsPassover is being observed much the same way the Jews did on the original Passover during the exodus from Egypt.
Ever since its inception the Passover mandate was to purge the home of any grain-based leavened item before Passover, to eat Matzah and bitter herbs on Passover, and (when we have a Holy Temple in Jerusalem) to bring a lamb as a Passover offering.
The lamb is not done today due to the Temple’s absence - may it be rebuilt speedily in our days, but everything else is: the mad, meticulous scrubbing and cleaning of every nook and cranny, the Seders with the Matzah and bitter herbs, as well as four cups of wine, on the first two nights (in Israel only on the first night), and the Shabbat-like services on the first and last days.
The lesson of Pesach is that you have unlimited potential. In Hebrew, Egypt is Mitzrayim—etymologically related to meitzarim, or borders. The moral of the Exodus story is that we all can escape our personal Egypts. And the seek-and-destroy-any-leavened-particle part of Passover teaches us to eradicate our puffed-up, inflated, doughy egos and be simple, flat, unleavened Matzot.
The holiday of Pesach contains innumerable lessons, laws and customs.
The Torah prohibits the consumption and possession of Chametz (grain) for the duration of the Passover Holiday. In the days/weeks leading up to Passover we clean and rid the house of all food items made of (or contain) grain.
On the night before Passover we do the Search for Chametz, and the next morning all remaining Chametz is eaten, burnt, and/or sold to a non-Jew.
For the week (or 8 days) of Passover we eat Matzah instead of bread, and all food products that we eat must be certified Kosher for Passover. When we had a Holy Temple in Jerusalem a special Passover offering was brought on the eve of Passover, roasted whole, and eaten on the first night of Passover.Today, until the Temple is rebuilt - may it be speedily in our days, we cannot bring sacrifices. So adhering to the words of the prophet Hoseah "And we will render the prayer of our lips in place of the sacrifice of bullocks", we read the order of the Passover offering after the afternoon prayers on the eve of Passover.
The SederThe highlight of Passover is the Passover Seder. On the first night (outside of Israel on the first two nights) of Passover family and friends gather to relate, celebrate and re-experience our miraculous Exodus from Egypt and the birth of the Jewish Nation.
The Seder table is set in a most elegant fashion, and features a Seder Plate.
During the Seder we drink four cups of wine, eat Matzah and Maror, read the Haggadah, and enjoy a gourmet Holiday feast.
Since Jewish continuity depends on the transmission of tradition from parent to child, children play a central role at the Seder.
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