🫓 Passover Countdown
April 22, 2027
About Passover
Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is one of the most significant Jewish holidays, observed for seven days in Israel and eight days in the diaspora. It commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt as described in the Book of Exodus — one of the foundational narratives of Jewish identity and faith. The holiday begins on the 15th of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, in the spring, and the central ritual is the Passover Seder: a ritual meal held on the first night (and second night in diaspora communities) during which the Exodus story is retold using a special guidebook called the Haggadah.
Passover Traditions
The most distinctive Passover observance is the prohibition of chametz — leavened bread and grain products that have fermented — during the entire holiday. This commemorates the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt, leaving no time for their bread to rise. Matzah, unleavened bread, replaces chametz and is the iconic Passover food. In observant households, all chametz is removed from the home before Passover begins, through an elaborate cleaning process and a symbolic search (bedikat chametz) the night before. The Seder plate holds symbolic foods: bitter herbs (maror) representing the bitterness of slavery, charoset (a sweet paste) representing the mortar used by enslaved workers, a shank bone, egg, parsley, and salt water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Passover Seder?
The Seder is a ritual feast held on the first night (and second night outside Israel) of Passover. The word seder means "order" in Hebrew. The meal follows a specific order of rituals using a book called the Haggadah, which recounts the story of the Exodus.
Why is leavened bread forbidden during Passover?
Matzah (unleavened bread) commemorates the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt — their bread did not have time to rise. During Passover, all leavened products (chametz) are removed from the home.