Passover

Hello! I am a Jewish holiday called Passover. My name in Hebrew is Pesach. I help people remember a very old and important story all about freedom. The story is about the Jewish people, who were called Israelites a long, long time ago. They were slaves in a land called Egypt.

Being a slave meant they were not free to make their own choices, and it was a very sad time. My story tells how the Israelites became free. It is about their long journey leaving Egypt to find a new home where they could live happily and safely.

To observe me, families and friends gather for a special meal called a Seder. During the Seder, they read from a book called the Haggadah. This book tells the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt. People at the Seder also sing songs together. There is often a fun game for children, where they get to look for a hidden piece of special bread.

At the Seder, the foods on the table help tell my story. A special Seder plate holds foods that each mean something. People eat a flat, crunchy bread called matzah. This is because when the Israelites left Egypt, they were in such a hurry that their bread did not have time to rise and get puffy. They also eat bitter herbs to remember the sadness of being slaves. But they also eat a sweet paste, which helps them remember the hope and happiness of freedom.