Pesachפֶּסַח

Passover (Hebrew: פֶּסַח Pesach) commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, which is in spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and is celebrated for seven or eight days. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays. Pesach is the Jewish festival of freedom and redemption. The name "Pesach" ("to pass over") points to the tenth plague, when God struck down the Egyptian firstborn but "passed over" Israelite homes marked with lamb's blood (Exodus 12). Theologically, the liberation from Egypt frames the covenantal bond between God and Israel that reaches its climax at Sinai. As one of the three pilgrimage festivals (shalosh regalim), Pesach centers on retelling the story of going "from slavery to freedom" so each generation experiences it as their own. The seventh day commemorates the splitting of the Sea of Reeds and the final deliverance from Pharaoh's army.

Pesach begins on 15 Nisan in spring and runs through 21 Nisan in Israel (7 days) or 22 Nisan in the Diaspora (8 days); the extra Diaspora day reflects the historical "second day of festivals" (yom tov sheni shel galuyot). Most Reform Jews observe 7 days, matching Israeli practice. The first and last day (or, in the Diaspora, the first two and last two days) are full festival days when work is prohibited; the days in between are Chol HaMoed, the intermediate days. The Seder is held on the first night, with a second Seder added on the second night in the Diaspora, and the Counting of the Omer begins on the second night.

The festival has its own Torah and Haftarah cycle. On the first day the Torah reading is Exodus 12:21-51 with maftir Numbers 28:16-25, and the Haftarah is from Joshua 3 and 5-6 (Ashkenazim begin at Joshua 3:5; Sephardim begin at Joshua 5:2). The seventh day reads the Song of the Sea, Exodus 13:17-15:26, recounting the splitting of the sea, with a Haftarah from II Samuel 22. On Shabbat Chol HaMoed the Haftarah is Ezekiel's vision of the "dry bones" (Ezekiel 37:1-14). The Megillah of Pesach is the Song of Songs (Shir HaShirim), read in full (1:1-8:14); Ashkenazim read it on Shabbat Chol HaMoed. In Ashkenazi practice the Song of Songs is chanted with the shared "Three Festivals" Megillah trope (the same melody used for Kohelet on Sukkot and Ruth on Shavuot) rather than a unique tune like the Eicha trope or the Esther trope. The Torah and Haftarah portions use standard Torah and Haftarah cantillation. (Sephardic, Mizrahi, and Italian communities differ on when the Song of Songs is read and on its melody, and some congregations recite it plainly rather than with cantillation.)

The centerpiece is the Seder, a 15-step ritual meal guided by the Haggadah, which retells the Exodus. Familiar customs include the Four Cups of wine symbolizing freedom, the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah) traditionally asked by children, the afikoman (a hidden piece of matzah), and the Seder plate with symbolic foods such as maror (bitter herbs) and charoset. Throughout the festival Jews eat matzah (unleavened bread) and avoid chametz (leaven), which is searched out and burned before the holiday begins (bedikat and biur chametz). The Counting of the Omer starts on the second night. Hallel is recited in full on the first day(s) and as an abbreviated "half Hallel" on the later days, since the drowning of the Egyptians tempers the joy. Many recite Yizkor on the final day. Ashkenazim traditionally also avoid kitniyot (legumes and rice), a custom not shared by all communities, and the Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Sabbath.