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ABOUT THE HOLIDAY
“You bless us with the commandment to remove all chametz from our homes;
May it be Your will that we find the way to remove the chametz from our souls
by finding and sharing freedom”. ~CLAL
Pesach, or Passover, takes place on the 15th day of Nissan and commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The holiday traditionally is celebrated for eight days; Israeli and liberal Jews observe the festival for seven days. The Exodus story is found in the first half of the Book of Exodus. Pesach marks the emergence of Israel as a nation and as a people who accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai as the guiding basis for Jewish life. Until this event, G-d had made covenants with individuals. This time, the covenant was made between God and Am Yisrael (the entire Jewish people). The holiday is known by four names, each reflecting an aspect of the festival:
- Chag HaPesach, the Festival of Passover, is linked with the account of the 10th plague, the killing of the first born Egyptian sons, when G-d passed over the homes of the Israelites.
- Chag HaMatzot, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, reflects the centrality of matzah in the observance of the holiday.
- Chag HaAviv, the Spring Festival, reflects the holiday’s seasonal significance.
- Z'man Cheruteynu, the Season of Our Freedom, marks the attainment of freedom from bondage by the ancient Israelites.
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