What is Passover, the Jewish Easter?

From Monday, April 22 to Tuesday, April 30, Jewish communities celebrate Passover (or Pesach), the Festival of freedom. The Jewish Passover is one of the most important celebrations in Judaism.

But what is its significance? Jews commemorate the departure of the Hebrew people from Egypt, the Exodus. This is the biblical account that tells how the Hebrews, enslaved by Egypt, emancipate themselves to leave the country, under the leadership of Moses.

Pesach means "to pass over" in Hebrew. This refers to the tenth plague of Egypt, the death of the firstborn, a plague that in the Bible "passes over" the houses of the Hebrews to strike only the Egyptians. The Exodus can also be seen as the birth of the people of Israel as a nation. In the Jewish calendar, Passover corresponds this year to the dates of the 14th to the 21st of Nissan in the year 5784.

"It is the Passover sacrifice for the Lord"

Together with Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, Passover is one of the most observed Jewish holidays by families. In the Book of Exodus (13:3), Moses says: "'Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery. For it was with a strong hand that the Lord brought you out from there."

The prophet also instructs telling this story from generation to generation: "When your children ask you, ‘What does this rite of yours mean?’ you will reply, 'It is the Passover sacrifice for the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt; when he struck down the Egyptians, he delivered our houses'." (Exodus 12:26-27).

Passover lasts for a week: seven days in Israel, and eight days for Jews living in the diaspora. The holiday has two highlights: the first day, which marks the exodus from Egypt, and the last day, which commemorates the crossing of the Red Sea. According to religious regulations, both must be holidays. During the time of the first and second temples in Jerusalem, the Jewish Passover was a pilgrimage festival, during which Jews had to go to Jerusalem for seven days to make offerings to God.

Unleavened bread and bitter herbs

The first evening (the first two evenings in the diaspora) features a ritual meal, the seder ("order" in Hebrew), which includes the reading of biblical texts, the consumption of wine and special foods, songs, and prayers... Among the fundamental elements of the meal: unleavened bread, honoring the dough that the Hebrews took with them in their flight without it having time to rise, and the prescription: "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. From the very first day, you will have your houses clear of all leaven." (Exodus 12:15). 

There are also bitter herbs (such as horseradish, celery, romaine lettuce...) reminding of the harshness of slavery, and a bone representing the Passover sacrifice. There is also usually a hard-boiled egg, saltwater reminding of the tears of the slaves, and a fruit paste representing the mortar with which the Hebrews made bricks. The Jewish Passover also involves the distribution of food parcels, organized by charitable organizations.