In 2007, the Jewish holiday Passover began at sundown on April 2 and lasts through sundown April 10. As Jews celebrate the flight of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, many rituals are performed to mark this holy period.
1. Passover, also known as "Pesach," is observed for seven or eight days, depending on where you live. Jews in Israel and Reform Jews, those who came through Europe, celebrate Passover for seven days. Jewish people living elsewhere in the world celebrate for eight days.
2. Passover also refers to the Biblical story of the 10th Plague. According to the Bible, God brought a plague on Egypt for keeping the Jews in bondage, and the first-born child in every Egyptian household was killed. However, God passed over the homes of the Israelites, allowing them to live. According to the Bible, Exodus 12:20-22, Moses instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a Passover lamb and put the blood of the lamb around their doorframes.
3. Passover can be in March or April. It begins the 15th day of the Hebrew month Nisan. A lunisolar calendar, still based on 12 months, is used to determine religious holidays.
4. What is Seder? Passover begins with a ceremonial feast called the Seder. At the Seder, the story of the flight of the Israelites is read from a book called the Haggadah.
5. Unleavened bread is eaten during Passover. According to the Bible, when the Israelites fled, they didn't have time to let their bread rise, so they made flat, unleavened bread called matzah (also spelled matzo) instead. Therefore, Jews eat matzahs during Passover.
6. There are several foods that may not be consumed during Passover. Chometz, or anything that contains barley, wheat, rye, oats and spelt -- a kind of wheat often fed to livestock -- is forbidden during Passover. Some Jews avoid corn, rice, peanuts and legumes. Foods not cooked within 18 minutes of contact with water are also forbidden.
7. Orthodox Jews Prepare Their Homes, Cooking and Eating Utensils for Passover. Sinks, refrigerators, ovens and stoves must be scoured and left unused for at least 24 hours before Passover. Special plates, "Passover china," must be used, and silverware is boiled.
Sources:"Passover." Columbia Encyclopedia. Accessed March 8, 2007. http://reference.aol.com/columbia/_a/passover/20051207001609990031
http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0500166.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/kosher1.html
"Pesach: Passover." JewFAQ.org. Accessed March 8, 2007. http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm
Passover begins with a seder, a family meal that includes many joyous songs and a reading of the story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt.