Passover

The name of the holiday refers to the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt when God passed over the Israelite homes. Throughout the festival, tradition instructs us not to eat bread or any leavened foods as a reminder that the Israelites left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have time to rise. Instead we eat matzah to represent the unleavened bread eaten by our Jewish ancestors when they fled Egypt in haste. The story of the Exodus is retold using age-old and contemporary rituals and foods at a large holiday meal called a “seder.” Passover reminds us that we have the capacity to liberate ourselves and others, restoring hope for a better future. The first two and last two days of the holiday are days of rest; work is permitted on the intermediate days. We greet one another by saying Happy Passover or Chag Sameach.