Passover 2015 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Popular Jewish Holiday from www.ibtimes.comA Brief Introduction to Pesach Pesach or Passover is one of the most significant Jewish festivals. It is a seven-day celebration that commemorates the liberation of Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt. The festival usually falls in March or April and is celebrated by Jews worldwide. The Story of Pesach The story behind Pesach dates back to more than 3,000 years ago. According to Jewish tradition, the Pharaoh of Egypt, fearing that the Jews were becoming too powerful, enslaved them. Moses, a Jewish leader, asked Pharaoh to free the Jews, but he refused. As a result, God sent ten plagues to Egypt, including the death of the firstborn. To protect the Jews, God instructed them to mark their doorposts with lamb's blood, so the Angel of Death would pass over them. This event is known as the Passover. The Seder Meal The highlight of Pesach is the Seder meal, which is held on the first two nights of the festival. The word "Seder" means order, and the meal follows a specific order. It includes reading the Haggadah, a book that tells the story of Pesach, eating matzah (unleavened bread), drinking four cups of wine, and eating symbolic foods such as bitter herbs and a roasted lamb shank bone. The Significance of Matzah Matzah is a central part of the Pesach celebration. It is made from flour and water and is baked quickly without any yeast. Matzah represents the haste with which the Jews left Egypt. According to Jewish tradition, when the Jews fled Egypt, they did not have time to let their bread rise, so they baked unleavened bread instead. The Four Cups of Wine During the Seder meal, four cups of wine are drunk to symbolize the four promises that God made to the Jews. These are: "I will bring you out from under the burden of the Egyptians," "I will deliver you from their bondage," "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments," and "I will take you to me for a people." The Significance of the Seder Plate The Seder plate is a special plate that holds symbolic foods. These include maror (bitter herbs), charoset (a mixture of apples, nuts, and wine), karpas (a vegetable such as parsley), a roasted lamb shank bone, and a roasted egg. Each food on the plate represents part of the story of Pesach. The Eighth Day of Pesach In Israel, an eighth day is added to the Pesach celebration. This day is called "Acharon Shel Pesach" and marks the crossing of the Red Sea by the Jews. On this day, Jews traditionally go to the beach or a body of water and recite special prayers. The Message of Pesach Pesach is a celebration of freedom and faith. It reminds Jews that they were once slaves but were saved by God. The festival teaches the importance of perseverance, faith, and hope. The message of Pesach is that even in the darkest of times, there is always the hope of redemption. Closing Thoughts Pesach is an essential festival in the Jewish calendar. It celebrates the liberation of Jews from slavery and the hope of redemption. The Seder meal, matzah, four cups of wine, and the Seder plate are all significant parts of the celebration. Pesach teaches the importance of perseverance, faith, and hope and reminds Jews to never forget their history. ...