Passover

Passover, a holiday that lasts for eight days, commemorates the liberation from Egyptian slavery. Pesach is considered the birth of the Jewish people, more than 3300 years ago. The holiday is rich in traditions, intended to help us achieve "freedom" in our own lives.

​

Chametz

Chametz refers to all food and drinks made from leavened wheat, barley, and other grains. During the Passover days, it is forbidden to consume or possess chametz. The prohibition of eating chametz begins on the morning of the 14th of Nisan, the day before Passover.

​

Seder Evenings

On the first two nights of Pesach, we hold a Seder, a festive yet solemn occasion. At a beautifully set table, we relive the Exodus from Egypt. We consider ourselves as if we were once prisoners in Egypt, oppressed by Pharaoh. And together with our ancestors, we leave Egypt, journeying towards the Reed Sea, Mount Sinai, and ultimately the Land of Israel.

​

Matzah

One of the mitzvot (commandments) of Passover is to eat matzah. There is a custom to eat handmade matzah, similar to the unleavened bread that the Jews baked during their hurried departure.

​

Chol Hamo'ed Pesach

These are the Intermediate Days of Passover. The prohibition of work on Yom Tov (biblical holiday) does not apply during the weekdays of Chol Hamo'ed. However, the prohibition of chametz remains in effect.

​

The Last Days of Pesach

Pesach is the holiday of liberation. We celebrate the initial liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery and reflect on it during the Seder evenings. We conclude the holiday with a forward-looking perspective, focused on the future. A time when we, along with the entire world population, as promised in the Torah, will finally be freed from all oppression and trials. A time when we will be able to fully concentrate on our spiritual development. This period is referred to as the "time of the Messiah" in Jewish tradition. The eighth and final day of Pesach is traditionally associated with our fervent hope for the imminent arrival of the Messiah. The haftarah (prophetic portion) for that day includes Isaiah's famous prophecy about the Messianic era: "The wolf will dwell with the lamb... they will not harm or destroy... the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea." Maimonides, one of the greatest Jewish philosophers of all time, considers belief in the Messiah as one of the thirteen essential elements of Jewish faith. Pesach concludes with "night," and chametz is once again permitted.