On the night before Passover, Jews perform a symbolic “bedikah,” searching their homes for leftover bread.
As such, it is one of the most significant holidays on the Jewish calendar, and is marked by special prayers and readings for the entire Passover festival. Prepare for the holiday with our collection of mind-blowing Passover video courses , or check out our Haggadah course to prepare for the Passover seder.
Matzah is the cracker-like unleavened bread that Jews eat during the holiday of Pesach. Matzah is an important part of the Exodus story. When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, they left in such haste that their dough did not have time to rise. It baked in the sun as they left, creating the classic flat matzo. On Passover, Jews who observe Pesach replace all bread products with matzo and don’t eat anything containing chametz.
What is Pesach About? The Passover holiday, also known as Pesach, commemorates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. Passover is celebrated in the springtime, and is often called Chag haAviv, or “The Spring Holiday,” in Hebrew. On the Hebrew calendar, the holiday of Passover begins on the evening of 15th of Nissan, usually late March or April on ...
In Israel, Passover lasts for seven days, as designated in the Torah. One Seder is held on the first night of Passover. In the diaspora, Passover holiday is eight days long and the Seder service is held on the first two nights of the holiday. Jews around the use a text called the Haggadah to conduct the Seder.
God sends ten plagues against the Egyptians as Pharaoh continues to deny the Israelite’s freedom. These plagues are intended to persuade Pharaoh to free the Jews, as well as meting out Divine justice – measure for measure – against the Egyptians for their treatment of the Israelites.
The Seder service praises God for redeeming the Jewish nation from Egypt, but also emphasizes our continued state of diaspora and exile. Tellingly, the Seder concludes with the joyous declaration “Next year in Jerusalem!” a note of hope that Final Redemption will soon reunite all Jews together in Israel.