Passover is the holiday during which Jewish people celebrate their Exodus from Egypt. During a Passover Seder, the Haggadah is read. The Haggadah is the story of the Jews’ escape from Egypt.

The Jewish people were slaves under the Pharaoh. Moses went to the Pharaoh many times to ask him to free the Jews. The Pharaoh refused, even when Moses told him if he didn’t, God would send down plagues to destroy the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh still said no!

So God sent the 10 plagues. They were: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the killing of firstborn children.

God then told Moses to have all of the Jews mark their doorways with lambs blood, so that the angels would know to ‘pass over’ their houses. After the Pharaoh’s own son was killed, he agreed to free the Jews.

The Pharaoh then changed his mind, but the Jews had packed up quickly and were already on their way to the desert. This included packing up their unleavened bread. They placed the flat dough into their packs and it baked in the heat of the sun as they marched through the desert.

The Jewish people fled from the Pharaoh’s army until they found themselves in front of a the Red Sea. This is when Moses parted the waters or the Red Sea to let his people through. Pharaoh’s army was swallowed up by the water and killed.

The Jewish people then wandered the desert for 40 years, heading to The Promised Land.

During Passover, we honour this part of our history by only eating certain foods. The foods that are allowed include anything that is not chametz. Chametz is Hebrew and it means ‘sour’. What this means in terms of what Jews can eat varies by sect and heritage. Some Jews include rice and beans as chametz. Some do not.

The Seder plate is used as the Haggadah is read. It holds five specific foods; matzah, the shank bone of a lamb, egg, bitter herbs, charoset and vegetable.

Charoset is a paste made of nuts, apples, cinnamon, honey and wine. It is represents the mortar the Jews used to hold the pyramids together when they were slaves in Egypt.

After the Haggadah is read, there is a meal served. This usually starts with matzoh ball soup and/or gefilte fish. The main course will be some sort of meat, vegetables and potatoes.

Passover lasts for eight days and during that time observant Jews do not eat any chametz.

We here at Progressive Jewish Link wish everyone a lovely Passover!