Passover

Passover History

Passover (Hebrew: פסח) is a seven-day Jewish festival that celebrates the Israelites fleeing from Egypt about 3,300 years ago. Passover is called such because the Israelites marked their door frames with a sign. It is believed that because of this sign, God passed over their houses during the plague of the firstborn.

The Israelites were servants from the days of Jacob until Moses. They lived through famine in most of Mesopotamia, including Israel. The Israelites built store cities for grain in Egypt (possibly, the pyramids). After 210 years of servitude in Egypt, the Israelites had become servant-minded and did not believe that they could flee. They eventually fled via the Wilderness of Sinai, where they resided for forty years.

Top 10 Facts for Passover (Begins) in 2026

• The observance is fundamentally linked to the theme of Spring, celebrating both a season of agricultural rebirth and the historical Renewal of the Jewish people.
• Before the holiday begins, families conduct a ritual search for chametz, or leavened foods, using a candle and a feather to ensure their homes are entirely cleared of forbidden grain products.
• The ritual meal is guided by The Haggadah, a structured text that dictates the sequence of stories, prayers, and songs intended to help every generation relive the story of the Exodus.
• To initiate the telling of the history, the youngest child present traditionally sings The Four Questions to inquire why the evening differs from all other nights of the year.
• A specific piece of unleavened bread called the afikoman is hidden during the night and must be found and "ransomed" back by the children before the ceremony can officially conclude.
• The Seder plate features a sweet mixture of fruits, nuts, and wine known as charoset, which serves as a physical symbol of the mortar used by enslaved Israelites in Egypt.
• To reflect the theme of Freedom, it is customary for participants to recline on pillows while eating and drinking to mimic the relaxed dining habits of ancient nobility.
• While many communities strictly avoid kitniyot—a category of foods including rice, corn, and legumes—others have historically included these staples in their traditional festive menus.
• The classic song Dayenu is a joyous part of the liturgy that lists various miracles and asserts that any single one would have been "enough" for the nation's Liberation.
• Some families incorporate a modern tradition known as The Cup of Miriam, which uses water to honor the life-sustaining well that followed the prophetess and the vital role of women in the history of Redemption.

In the News and Trending in the US for Passover

Top things to do in the US for Start of Passover

• Attend a Seder dinner or learn how to make your own Seder.
• Make Matzah. You can watch how to make matzah on youtube.
• Watch a movie that depicts Passover. Our picks: The Ten Commandments (1956) and The Prince of Egypt (1998).