Pesach or Passover, what does it mean? Matzah, why to eat flat bread for eight days?
Why is everybody cleaning like crazy? Since when Jews are celebrating this holiday and why is it so important?
Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan.
It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance.
It represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel.
The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt
after 400 years of slavery as told in the biblical Book of Exodus from chapters 1 to 15.
The name “Pesach” comes from the Hebrew verb to pass over.
It refers to the fact that God “passed over” the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.
Every Passover seder (ritual dinner) includes various ritual foods and other items.
Nothing on the seder table is selected randomly;
each item has its purpose
and often its specific place on the table or on a special plate.
Every dish symbolizes an event or an object in the Exodus story.
You can’t celebrate Passover without: Pesach, Matzah and Maror.
Pesach is the sacrifice that the Hebrews made the night the before they fled Egypt.
Matzah, the biblical narrative relates that the Israelites left Egypt in such haste
they could not wait for their bread dough to rise; the bread, when baked, was matzah.
Maror is a bitter herb. They bring tears to the eyes and recall the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.
Before the holiday itself all of the Jewish families are doing the spring cleaning.
Jews don’t keep any Chametz (leavened food)
during the eight days of Passover.
Most of the children are helping their parents
to boil all of the dishes in the house on the streets.
If you will pass near Bar-Lev road or take the light train
you will see the Orthodox clean and boil.
In Mahane Yehuda market the shopping already began.
You can find there Matzah or special cookies made
of peanuts or coconut.
You are more than welcome to come and help us prepare for the holiday.