Passoverפֶּסַח

The Torah tells of the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, the ten plagues and the departure by night after the last plague, when God “passed over” (pasach) the houses of the Israelites. The Passover offering of the lamb and the meal with matzah and bitter herbs are instituted in Exodus 12.^1,2

The festival is included in the calendar of festivals as chag ha-matzot (the festival of unleavened bread) and as one of the three pilgrimage festivals, when people went up to the Temple.^3,4,5

After the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE) the lamb offering ceased and the centre of the festival became the home seder, whose order is already recorded in the Mishnah (Pesachim 10): four cups, the children's questions, the explanation of Pesach, matzah and maror. The text of the Haggadah took shape during the Geonic period.^6,7

The historicity of the Exodus in the form described by the Bible is a matter of scholarly debate; for the festival's religious meaning, what is decisive is collective memory and the commandment to tell the story.

Central is the commandment to tell the children: “And you shall tell your son on that day…”. The Mishnah adds that in every generation a person should see himself as if he himself had come out of Egypt.^8,9

In later literature chametz and matzah are often interpreted symbolically: leaven as pride and being “puffed up”, matzah as humility and the bread of poverty (lechem oni).¹⁰

Bedikat chametz: on the evening before Passover (the night of 14 Nisan) the home is searched by candlelight. On the morning of 14 Nisan comes bi'ur chametz (burning) and the declaration nullifying the chametz (kol chamira, in Aramaic).^11,12

The sale of chametz (mechirat chametz) to a non-Jew through a rabbi makes it possible to keep sealed-off stocks. The Fast of the Firstborn (ta'anit bechorot) on 14 Nisan is usually broken by attending a celebration of the completion of a course of study (siyum).¹³

Before the festival ma'ot chitim is given – a contribution to help the poor buy Passover food.¹⁴

Throughout the festival it is forbidden to eat, own or even have in sight chametz – products of wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt that have risen. At the seder it is obligatory to eat matzah (especially matzah shmurah).^15,16

The central text is the Haggadah (הַגָּדָה, “telling”): the questions of Ma nishtanah, the four sons, the midrash on “My father was a wandering Aramean”, the ten plagues, Dayenu, Hallel and closing songs such as Chad Gadya.^20,21,22

On the first day the prayer for dew (Tefilat Tal) is said in Musaf, and from then on the mention of rain ceases. On Passover the full Hallel is recited only on the first day (in the diaspora two days); thereafter it is abbreviated.^23,24

Three matzot under a cover, four cups of wine, the cup of the prophet Elijah and, in many modern families, also Miriam's cup.²⁷

Passover cooking requires ingredients with Passover certification and Passover or kashered utensils; a dish is not “kosher for Passover” in and of itself.

The seder is geared to children: they ask the four questions, search for the hidden afikoman (by custom for a reward) and wait for the prophet Elijah.²¹

Children can help search for chametz by candlelight, prepare the charoset, and draw their own Haggadah or seder plate.