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Jewish Passover
The Jewish Passover/Pesach and how to celebrate it
Introduction
Passover is an eight-day Festival (seven in Israel) commemorating the Exodus from Egypt
and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. For the duration of Passover, no leavened
bread is eaten for which reason it is also called (Chag HaMatzot), "The Festival of the
Unleavened Bread".
The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahkh) comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet , meaning
to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over"
the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In English, the holiday is
known as Passover.
"Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on
this holiday. The holiday is also referred to as Chag ha-Aviv , (the Spring Festival),
Chag ha-Matzoth , (the Festival of Matzahs), and Z'man Cherutenu , (the Time of Our Freedom).