Pesach

The festival of Pesach recalls the Exodus – the Israelite slavery in Egypt and their subsequent freedom more than 3,000 years ago. It originally marked the beginning of the barley harvest in ancient Israel.

Pesach, also called Passover, is observed from 15-21 Nisan in the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in March or April. Pesach also begins the seven-week period known as the Omer, which concludes with the festival of Shavuot.

Pesach has roots in both agricultural and historical traditions. It began as a spring festival marking the start of the barley harvest and later became associated with the story of the Exodus from Egypt. In ancient times, it was one of the Shalosh Regalim (Three Pilgrimage Festivals), when Israelites brought offerings of their first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Pesach explores themes of enslavement and liberation – both physical and spiritual. At its heart is a unique communal meal called a Seder, in which the story of the Exodus is not only retold but re-enacted by all those present. During the seder and throughout Pesach, we connect with Jewish history while reflecting on the present and envisioning a world free from all forms of oppression.

Passover is perhaps the most widely observed Jewish festival, and many families cherish traditions passed down through generations.

Traditions associated with Pesach include:

• Hosting or attending a Seder (meaning ‘order’), a ritual meal that uses a book called a Haggadah (meaning ‘telling’) along with symbolic foods and rituals to guide participants through the story of the Exodus. Many Progressive communities host engaging and interactive communal Seders.
• Attending special prayer services on the first and seventh days of Pesach. Many Progressive synagogues offer a range of formats – from traditional liturgy to explanatory, teen-focused, and family-friendly services.
• Eating distinctive foods, most notably matzah, a flat bread made from flour and water and baked within 18 minutes. Matzah commemorates the Israelites’ swift departure from Egypt, when there was no time for their bread to rise.
• Removing or reducing chametz – leavened products made from wheat, barley, rye, oats or spelt – from the home during this period. Practices vary across communities but recall the haste of the Exodus. On a spiritual level, this can also be a time for clearing away ‘emotional chametz’ – negative thoughts, feelings, or habits from the past year.

Today, Pesach is a communal experience that brings families, friends and communities together to reflect on slavery and freedom – where we have come from and where we hope to go – recalling the past while adding our own link to the chain.

If you want to experience Pesach in a welcoming, inclusive and egalitarian setting, we’d love to welcome you into one of our Progressive congregations.