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Modern Jewish customs
Before the holiday begins, observant Jews will remove and discard
all food with leavening (called chametz) from their households,
doing a thorough job, so that not even a crumb remains. This
tradition is called
bedikat chametz. Throughout the holiday, they
will eat no leavened food, replacing breads, pastas, and cakes with
matzoh and other specially prepared foods. |
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Articles on Passover |
A Passover Thought |
Israel Map |
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An
Unforgettable Passover |
Israel Map |
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The Color of Wine |
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Jews' Passover Facsimile of a miniature from a
missel of fifteenth century ornamented with
paintings of the School of Van Eyck. Bibl. de
l'Arsenal, Th. lat., no 199.
Passover is a family holiday and a happy one. The
first and seventh days are observed as full
holidays, as are the second and eighth days for many
Diaspora Jews.
It is traditional for a Jewish family to gather on
the first two nights (only one night in Israel) for
a special dinner called a seder (literally
translating as "order", due to the very specific
order of the ceremony) where the story of the
Israelite exodus from Egypt is retold by the reading
of the story of the Exodus from Egypt, the
Haggadah. |
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At the seder three
matzahs
are used. During the seder, the middle
matzah
is broken in half. The smaller piece is returned to the set
of
matzahs
while the larger piece is designated as the afikomen, or the
dessert matzoh. Two distinct customs have arisen regarding
the afikomen, both of which involve the afikomen being
hidden as a means of keeping the children interested in the
proceedings. In one custom, a child "steals" it and the
parent has to find it. If the parent can't find it, the
child is given a reward for the return of the afikomen. In
the other custom the parents hide the afikomen and the
children look for it at the end of the meal. If the children
find it, they receive the reward.
During the seder, a platter, called the "Seder
Plate" is a main part of the dinner. The Seder Plate has
on it all of the main symbols of Passover. There is a
roasted shank bone of a paschal lamb called a "Z'roa" which
represents the offerings at the temple at
Jerusalem on Passover. It has a roasted egg called a "Beitzah"
which represents the Second offerings given at the temple in
Jerusalem on Pesach,
Shavuot, and Sukkot/Succot.
There is a green, leafy vegetable (usually celery (S.) or
parsley/lettuce (A.)) called "Karpas" which reminds the
participants that Passover corresponds with Spring and the
harvest, which, in ancient times was a cause for celebration
itself. There is a dish of chopped fruits, nuts, and wine
called "Charoset" which represents the mortar used by the
Jews in bondage. There is dish of "maror" or bitter herbs
which represent the bitterness of slavery.
There is a tradition of speaking of Four Sons. The Wise son,
the Wicked son, the Simple one, and the Young one, who does
not know enough to inquire. These sons represent the
different types of Jews. The Wise son is the observant Jews.
The Wicked son is the Jews that reject their heritage and
religion. The Simple one is the Jews that are completely
indifferent. The Young one is the
Jews that don't know their culture or traditions and so,
cannot say anything on the subject.
Since "Seder" means "order", it is not unexpected that there
is an order to the night's proceedings. The night goes as
follows:
Kaddesh קדש (Saying of Kiddush blessing and the first cup of
Wine)
Ur'chatz ורחץ (The washing of the hands)
Karpas כרפס (Dipping of the Karpas in salt water)
Yachatz יחץ (Break middle matzoh. It becomes the Afikomen)
Maggid מגיד(Telling of the Passover story. The saying of the
Four Question.)
Rochtzah רחץ(Second washing of the hands)
Motzi/ Matzah מוציא / מצה (Saying of the matzah blessing)
Maror מרור (Eating of charoset and maror)
Korech כורך (Eating of Matzah, charoset, and maror)
Shulchan Orech שולחן עורך (Dinner is served)
Tzafun צפון (Eating of the Afikomen)
Barech ברך (After dinner blessing, Wine, and in Ashkenazi
families: welcoming of Elijah the Prophet)
Hallel הלל (Song singing, more wine)
Nirtzah נירצה (Conclusion)
Passover
in 2011 will start on Tuesday, the
19th of April and will continue
for 7 days until Monday, the 25th
of April.
Note that in the Jewish calendar,
a holiday begins on the sunset of
the previous day, so observing Jews
will celebrate Passover on the sunset
of Monday, the 18th of April.
Passover in 2012 will start on Saturday,
the 7th of April and will continue
for 7 days until Friday, the 13th
of April.
Passover in 2013 will start on Tuesday,
the 26th of March and will continue
for 7 days until Monday, the 1st
of April.
Passover in 2014 will start on Tuesday,
the 15th of April and will continue
for 7 days until Monday, the 21st
of April.
Passover in 2015 will start on Saturday,
the 4th of April and will continue
for 7 days until Friday, the 10th
of April.
Passover in 2016 will start on Saturday,
the 23rd of April and will continue
for 7 days until Friday, the 29th
of April.
Passover in 2017 will start on Tuesday,
the 11th of April and will continue
for 7 days until Monday, the 17th
of April. |
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