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{{otheruses4|the Jewish holiday}}
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{{Infobox Holiday
|image = Machine-made Shmura Matzo.jpg
|caption = Machine-made [[matzo]], the traditional substitute for bread eaten on Passover.
|holiday_name = Passover
|official_name = [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: '''פסח''' (''Pesach'')
|observedby = [[Judaism|Jew]]s, [[Samaritan]]s
|begins = 15th day of [[Nisan]]
|ends = 21st day of [[Nisan]] in [[Israel]], and among some liberal [[Jewish diaspora|Diaspora Jews]]; 22nd day of [[Nisan]] outside of [[Israel]] among more traditional Diaspora Jews.
|celebrations = In Jewish practice, one or two festive [[Passover Seder|Seder]] meals - first two nights; in the times of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], the [[Korban]] Pesach. In Samaritan practice, men gather for a religious ceremony on Mount Gerizim that includes the ancient Passover Sacrifice.
|date2006 = sunset of [[12 April]] to nightfall of [[19 April]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[20 April]]
|date2007 = sunset of [[April 2]] to nightfall of [[9 April]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[10 April]]
|date2008 = sunset of [[April 19]] to nightfall of [[26 April]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[27 April]]
|date2009 = sunset of [[April 8]] to nightfall of [[15 April]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[16 April]]
|type = One of the [[Three Pilgrim Festivals]]
|significance = Celebrates the [[Exodus]], the freedom from [[slavery]] of the [[Children of Israel]] from [[History of ancient Egypt|ancient Egypt]] that followed the [[Ten Plagues]].<br>
Beginning of the 49 days of [[Counting of the Omer]]
|relatedto = [[Shavuot]] ("Festival [of] Weeks") which follows 49 days from the second night of Passover.
}}
{{Jews and Judaism sidebar}}


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'''Passover''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]: פֶּסַח, '''Pesach''', [[Tiberian Hebrew|Tiberian]]: {{IPA|pɛsaħ}}, [[Hebrew language|Israeli]]: '''Pesah''', '''Pesakh''', Yiddish: '''Peysekh''') is a [[Jew]]ish and [[Samaritan]] holy day and festival commemorating God freeing the Jews from slavery in Egypt and adopting them as His chosen nation.

Passover begins on the 14th day of the month of [[Nisan]], the first month of the [[Hebrew calendar]] in accordance with the [[Hebrew Bible]].<ref name="Lev-23-4">({{bibleverse||Lev|23:4|HE}}; {{bibleverse||Num|9:3,5|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Num|28:16|HE}})</ref> The Exodus of the Jews from Egypt took place in the spring and so Passover is celebrated in the spring for one day, immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

In the story of [[Moses]], God set [[Ten Plagues|ten plagues]] upon the Egyptians to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The tenth plague was the killing of the firstborn sons. However, the Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb, and upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover".<ref>Exodus 12:12: "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am יהוה (the LORD)."</ref> When Pharaoh then freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no [[leaven|leavened bread]] is eaten, for which reason it is also called "The Festival of the Unleavened Bread" <ref>{{bibleverse||Lev|23:6|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Num|28:17|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Num|33:3|HE}}</ref>. Instead, ''[[matza]]'' is eaten, and is the primary symbol of the holiday.<ref>According to [[Halakha]], matzo may be made from flour derived from five types of grain: [[wheat]], [[barley]], [[spelt]], [[oat]]s and [[rye]]. The dough for matzo is made when flour is added to water only, which has not been allowed to rise for more than 18&ndash;22 minutes prior to baking.</ref> Those who have real concerns with the Kosher for Passover diet, due to health issues, such as diabetes, should consult with their Rabbi and doctor.<ref> http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-passover-diabetics.htm Advice on This Issue</ref>

Together with [[Shavuot]] ("Pentecost") and [[Sukkot]] ("Tabernacles"), Passover is one of the [[three pilgrim festivals]] (''Shalosh Regalim'') during which the entire Jewish populace historically made a pilgrimage to the [[Temple in Jerusalem]]. Samaritans still make this pilgrimage to Mount Gerizim, but only men participate in public worship.{{fact|date=September 2008}}

==Date in the spring and length==
Passover begins on the 14th day of the month of [[Nisan]], which corresponds to the [[full moon]] of Nisan, the first month of the [[Hebrew calendar]], in accordance with the [[Hebrew Bible]].<ref name="Lev-23-4"/> Passover is a spring festival, so the 14th of Nisan is the first full moon after the [[vernal equinox]]. To ensure that Passover did not start before spring, the tradition in ancient Israel held that the 1st of Nisan would not start until the barley is ripe, being the test for the onset of spring.<ref>The barley had to be "eared out" (ripe) in order to have a wave-sheaf offering of the first fruits according to the Law. {{cite book |title=Secrets of Time |last=Jones |first=Stephen |year=1996}} This also presupposes that the cycle is based on the northern hemisphere seasons.</ref> In that event an [[Intercalation|intercalary month]] ([[Adar II]]) would be added. However, since at least the 12th century, the date has been determined mathematically.

In [[Land of Israel|Israel]], Passover is a Sabbath and the seven-day holiday of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with the first and last days observed as legal holidays and as holy days involving abstention from work, special prayer services, and holiday meals; the intervening days are known as [[Chol HaMoed]] ("festival days"). Diaspora Jews historically observed the festival for eight days, and most still do. [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] and [[Reconstructionist Judaism|Reconstructionst Jews]] and Israeli Jews, wherever they are, usually observe the holiday over seven days. The reason for this extra day is not known. It is thought by many scholars that Jews outside of Israel could not be certain if their local calendars fully conformed to practice of the temple at Jerusalem, so they added an extra day. But as this practice only attaches to certain (major) holy days, others posit the extra day may have been added to accommodate people who had to travel long distances to participate in communal worship and ritual practices; or the practice may have evolved as a compromise between conflicting interpretations of Jewish Law regarding the calendar; or it may have evolved as a safety measure in areas where Jews were commonly in danger, so that their enemies could not be certain on which day to attack.<ref>De Lange, Nicholas (2000). An Introduction to Judaism. New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press. p. 97</ref>

==Origins of the festival==
{{see also|The Exodus}}

Passover is a biblically-mandated holiday; the unblemished lamb was set aside on the 10th and then publicly killed in the temple on the preparation day, the 13th, as evening approached (the days began and ended at sunset), then the lambs would be prepared and eaten while standing that evening, the 14th, with nothing of it to remain by morning. All leavening was removed from their houses on the 13th, the
preparation day as well.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is also a biblically-mandated holiday: in which Jews are commanded to recount the story of [[The Exodus]]. Deuteronomy 16:3 states:
:"that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life," <ref>{{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:3|HE}}</ref>
and 16:12:
:"And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt; and thou shalt observe and do these statutes"<ref>{{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:12|HE}}</ref>
to eat [[matzah]] and [[maror]] and to abstain from eating [[chametz]]. Exodus 12:14 commands, in reference to God's sparing of the firstborn from the [[Ten Plagues|Tenth Plague]]:

:"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; howbeit the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore shall ye observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses; for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a sojourner, or one that is born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.'<ref>{{bibleverse||Exodus|12:14|HE}}</ref>

Leviticus 23:5-8 states:

:"In the first month, on '''the fourteenth day of the month at dusk''', is the LORD'S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD; seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work. And ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days; in the seventh day is a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work."<ref>{{bibleverse||Leviticus|23:5|HE}}</ref>

===Origin of the name===
[[Image:The Jews Passover.jpg|left|thumb|"The Jews' Passover"—facsimile of a miniature from a 15th century [[missal]], ornamented with paintings of the School of Van Eyck]]The verb "''pasàch''" ({{lang-he|פָּסַח}}) is first mentioned in the [[Torah]] account of the [[Exodus]] from Egypt ({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:23|HE}}), and there is some debate about its exact meaning: the commonly-held assumption that it means "He passed over", in reference to God "passing over" the houses of the Israelites during the final plague of the Ten [[Plagues of Egypt]], stems from the translation provided in the [[Septuagint]] (''παρελευσεται'' in {{bibleverse||Exodus|12:23|HE}}, and ''εσκεπασεν'' in {{bibleverse||Exodus|12:27|HE}}). Judging from other instances of the verb, and instances of [[Parallelism (rhetoric)|parallelism,]] a more faithful translation may be "he hovered over, guarding." Indeed, this is the image used by [[Isaiah]] by his use of this verb in Isaiah. 31:5: "As birds hovering, so will the Lord of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He ''passeth over''" (כְּצִפֳּרִים עָפוֹת--כֵּן יָגֵן יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, עַל-יְרוּשָׁלִָם; גָּנוֹן וְהִצִּיל, פָּסֹחַ וְהִמְלִיט.) ({{bibleverse||Isaiah|31:5|HE}})
The English term "Passover" came into the [[English language]] through [[William Tyndale]]'s translation of the Bible, and later appeared in the [[King James Version of the Bible|King James Version]] as well.

The term ''Pesach'' ({{lang-he|פֶּסַח}}) may also refer to the [[Domestic sheep|lamb]] or [[Domestic goat|kid]] which was designated as the Passover sacrifice (called the ''[[Korban]] Pesach'' in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]). Four days before the Exodus, the Israelites were commanded to set aside a lamb or kid ({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:3|HE}}) and inspect it daily for blemishes. During the day on the 14th of Nisan, they were to slaughter the animal and use its blood to mark their lintels and door posts. Up until midnight on the 15th of Nisan, they were to consume the lamb. Each family (or group of families) gathered together to eat a meal that included the meat of the ''Korban Pesach'' while the Tenth Plague ravaged Egypt.

In subsequent years, during the existence of the [[Tabernacle (Judaism)|Tabernacle]] and later the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], the ''Korban Pesach'' was eaten during the [[Passover Seder]] on the 15th of Nissan. However, following the destruction of the Temple, no sacrifices may be offered or eaten. The story of the ''Korban Pesach'' is therefore retold at the Passover Seder, and the symbolic food which represents it on the [[Passover Seder Plate|Seder Plate]] is usually a roasted lamb [[wiktionary:shank|shankbone]], chicken wing, or chicken neck.

===Historic offering, "''Korban Pesach''"===
{{main|Korban Pesach}}
When the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] was standing, the focus of the Passover festival was the ''[[Korban]] Pesach'' (lit. "Pesach sacrifice," also known as the "Paschal Lamb"). Every family large enough to completely consume a young lamb or [[Wild Goat]] was required to offer one for sacrifice at the Jewish Temple on the afternoon of the 14th day of Nissan<ref>{{bibleverse||Num|9:11|HE}})</ref>, and eat it that night, which was the 15th of Nissan <ref>({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:6|NIV}})</ref>. If the family was too small to finish eating the entire offering in one sitting, an offering was made for a group of families. The offering could not be slaughtered while one was in possession of leaven <ref>({{bibleverse||Exodus|23:18|HE}})</ref>, and had to be roasted <ref>({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:9|HE}})</ref> and eaten together with [[matzo]] (unleavened bread) and [[maror]] (bitter herbs) <ref>({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:9|HE}})</ref>. One had to be careful not to break any bones from the offering <ref>({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:46|HE}})</ref>, and none of the meat could be left over by morning. <ref>({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:10|HE}}{{bibleverse||Exodus|23:18|HE}})</ref>

Because of the ''Korban Pesach'''s status as a sacred offering, the only people allowed to eat it were those who have the obligation to bring the offering. Among those who can not offer or eat the ''Korban Pesach'' are: An [[apostate]] ({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:43|HE}}), a [[Indentured servant|servant]] ({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:45|HE}}), an [[Brit milah|uncircumcised man]] ({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:48|HE}}), a person in a state of [[Tohorot|ritual impurity]], except when a majority of Jews are in such a state (''[[Pesahim]]'' 66b). The offering must be made before a [[quorum]] of 30 (''[[Pesahim]]'' 64b). In the Temple, the [[Levites]] sing [[Hallel]] while the [[Kohen|Kohanim]] perform the sacrificial service. Men and women are equally obligated regarding the ''Korban Pesach'' (''[[Pesahim]]'' 91b).

Women were obligated, as men, to perform the Korban Pesach and to participate in a Seder.

Today, in the absence of the Temple, the [[mitzvah]] of the ''Korban Pesach'' is memorialized in the form of a symbolic food placed on the [[Passover Seder Plate]], which is usually a roasted [[humerus|shankbone]]. Many [[Sephardic]] Jews, however, have the opposite custom of eating lamb or goat meat during the Seder in memory of the ''Korban Pesach''

==Modern observance and preparation==
Many Jews observe the positive [[Torah]] [[Mitzvah|commandment]] of eating matzo on the first night of Passover at the [[Passover Seder]], as well as the Torah prohibition against eating [[chametz]] - certain leavening and fermenting agents, and things made with them, such as yeast breads, certain types of cake and biscuit, and certain alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages—but wine is an essential component of Passover, notwithstanding it is a fermented, yeast-bearing beverage. [[Karaite]] Jews are not bound by the oral law, under which "chametz" includes not only leavening agents but the grains from which bread is commonly made. Specifically, five grains, and products made from them, may not be used during Passover—wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt—except for making matzo, which ''must'' be made from one of these five grains. This is because the oral law decrees they begin to ferment within eighteen minutes of contact with water. So, despite pasta not being a leavened product, macaroni products cannot be owned or used during Passover under this interpretation of Jewish Law. Ashkenazic rabbinical tradition also forbids the use of rice, most legumes and new world grains like maize (unknown to the old world when the Bible was written), because they might be made into bread (such as cornbread). Sephardic and other rabbinical traditions do not have this prohibition.

===Chametz===
{{main|Chametz}}
''Chametz'' (חמץ, "leavening") refers either to a grain product that is already [[fermentation|fermented]] (e.g. yeast [[bread]]s, certain types of [[cake]], and most alcoholic beverages) or a substance that can cause fermentation (e.g. [[yeast]] or [[sourdough]]). The specific definition varies between religious and ethno-cultural traditions. The consumption of chametz and, under the oral law, its possession, are forbidden during Passover in most Jewish traditions.

In Ashkenazic and certain Sephardic applications of Jewish Law, "chametz" does not include [[baking soda]], [[baking powder]] or like products. Although these are leavening agents, they leaven by chemical reaction whereas the prohibition against chametz is understood to apply only to fermentation. Thus, bagels, waffles and pancakes made with baking soda and matzo meal are considered permissible, while bagels made with yeast, sourdough pancakes and waffles, and the like, are prohibited. Karaite Jews and many non-Ashkenazic Jewish traditions do not observe a distinction between chemical leavening and leavening by fermentation.

The Torah commandments regarding ''chametz'' are:

*To remove all ''chametz'' from one's home, including things made with chametz, before the first day of Passover. ({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:15|HE}}). It may be simply used up, thrown out (historically, destroyed by burning, since there was no weekly garbage pickup in ancient times), or given or sold to non-Jews (or non-Samaritans, as the case may be).

*To refrain from eating ''chametz'' or mixtures containing ''chametz'' during Passover. ({{bibleverse||Exodus|13:3|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Exodus|12:20|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:3|HE}}).

*Not to possess ''chametz'' in one's domain (i.e. home, office, car, etc.) during Passover ({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:19|HE}}, {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:4|HE}}).

====Spring Mega-Cleaning====

Observant Jews typically spend the weeks before Passover in a flurry of thorough housecleaning, to remove every morsel of ''[[chametz]]'' from every part of the home. The oral Jewish law ([[Halakha]]) requires the elimination of [[olive]]-sized or larger quantities of leavening from one's possession, but most housekeeping goes beyond this. Even the cracks of kitchen counters are thoroughly scrubbed, for example, to remove any traces of flour and yeast, however small.
Traditionally, Jews do a formal search for remaining chametz ("''bedikat chametz''") after nightfall on the evening before Passover (which is also the evening that precedes the Fast of the Firstborn). A blessing is read (על ביעור חמץ - ''al biyur chametz'', "on the removal of chametz") and one or more members of the household proceed from room to room to ensure no crumbs remain in any corner. In very traditional families, the search may be conducted by the head of the household; in more modern families, the children may be the ones who do the search, under the careful supervision of their parents.

It is customary to turn off the lights and conduct the search by [[candle]]light, using a feather and a wooden spoon: candlelight effectively illuminates corners without casting shadows; the feather can dust crumbs out of their hiding places; and the wooden spoon which collects the crumbs can be burned the next day with the ''chametz''.

Because the house is assumed to have been thoroughly cleaned by the night before Passover, there is some concern that making a blessing over the search for chametz will be for nought ("''bracha l'vatala''") if nothing is found. Thus, ten pieces of bread smaller than the size of an olive are hidden throughout the house in order to ensure that there is chametz to be found.

====Sale of Chametz====
''Chametz'' may be sold rather than discarded, especially in the case of relatively valuable forms such as [[liquor]] [[distillation|distilled]] from wheat, with the products being re-purchased afterward. In some cases, they may never leave the house, instead being formally sold while remaining in the original owners possession in a locked cabinet until they can be repurchased after the holiday. Although this practice dates back many years, some contemporary rabbinical authorities have come to regard it with disdain - since the supposed "new owner" never takes actual possession of the goods.

The sale of chametz may also be conducted communally via the [[rabbi]], who becomes the "agent" for all the community's Jews through a halakhic procedure called a "''[[kinyan]]''" (acquisition). Each householder must put aside all the ''chametz'' he is selling into a box or cupboard, and the rabbi enters into a contract to sell all the ''chametz'' to a non-Jewish person (who is not obligated to observe the commandments) in exchange for a small [[down payment]] (''e.g.'' $1.00), with the remainder due after Passover. This sale is considered completely binding according to Halakha, and at any time during the holiday, the buyer may come to take or partake of his property. The rabbi then re-purchases the goods for less than they were sold at the end of the holiday.<ref>[http://www.torahlearningcenter.com/jhq/question169.html Pesach questions and answers] by the Torah Learning Center.</ref>

Observant Jewish store owners who stock leavened food products sell everything in their storeroom in this fashion with the full knowledge that the new owner is entitled to claim the property. In [[Eastern Europe]]an [[shtetl]]s, Jewish [[tavern]]keepers, would sell their alcoholic ''chametz'' and risk having their neighbors enter their [[wine cellar|cellars]] to drink the liquor.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}

====Burning====
Following the formal search for ''chametz'', any leavened products that were found during the search, along with 10 morsels of bread, are burned (''s'rayfat chametz''). The head of the household declares any ''chametz'' that may not have been found to be null and void "as the dust of the earth" (''biyur chametz''). Should more ''chametz'' actually be found in the house during the Passover holiday, it must be burnt.

Unlike ''chametz'', which can be eaten any day of the year except during Passover, kosher for Passover foodstuffs can be eaten on Passover and year-round. They need not be burnt or otherwise discarded after the holiday ends. The sole exception is the historic sacrificial lamb, which is almost never part of the modern Jewish holiday but is still a principal feature of Samaritan observance. The meat of this lamb, which is slaughtered and cooked on the evening of Passover, must be completely consumed before the morning.({{bibleverse||Exodus|12:15|HE}})

===Matzo===
====Commandments and symbolism====
{{main|Matzo}}[[Image:Matzo.jpg|thumb|250px|Machine-made [[matzo]], the "official" food of Passover]]
The Torah contains a divine commandment to eat matzo on the first night of Passover and to eat only unleavened bread (i.e. matzo) during the week of Passover.<ref>{{bibleverse||Exodus|12:18|HE}}</ref> Accordingly, the eating of matzo figures prominently in the [[Passover Seder]]. There are several explanations for this.

The Torah says that it is because the Hebrews left Egypt with such haste that there was no time to allow baked bread to rise; thus, flat bread, matzo, is a reminder of the rapid departure of the Exodus.<ref>[http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=107&o=60495} Thought For Food: An Overview of the Seder | AskMoses.com - Judaism, Ask a Rabbi - Live<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref>. Other scholars teach that in the time of the Exodus, matzo was commonly baked for the purpose of traveling because it preserved well and was light to carry, suggesting that matzo was baked intentionally for the long journey ahead.

Matzo has also been called ''Lechem Oni'' (Hebrew: "poor man's bread"). There is an attendant explanation that matzo serves as a symbol to remind Jews what it is like to be a poor slave and to promote humility, appreciate freedom, and avoid the inflated ego symbolized by leavened bread.<ref>[http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=107&o=450 What is the kabbalistic view on chametz?] by Rabbi Yossi Marcus</ref>.

====Matzo baking====
[[Image:Shmura Matzo.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Handmade ''shmura matzo'']]In the weeks before Passover, matzos are prepared for holiday consumption. In [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] communities, men traditionally gather in groups ("''chaburas''") to bake a special version of handmade matzo called "''shmura matzo''", or "guarded matzo", for use at the Seder. These are made from wheat that is guarded from contamination by chametz from the time of summer [[harvest]] to its baking into matzos five to ten months later.<ref>These Matzos are often begun to be produced in early November.[http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/050422/matzo.shtml]</ref> ''Shmura matzo'' dough is rolled by hand, resulting in a large and round matzo. ''Chaburas'' also work together in machine-made matzo factories, which produce the typically square-shaped matzo sold in stores.
The baking of ''shmura matzo'' is labor-intensive, as only 18-22 minutes is permitted between the mixing of flour and water to the conclusion of baking and removal from the oven; however, most are completed by 5 minutes after first being kneaded.<ref>[http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/050422/matzo.shtml Making matzo: A time-honored tradition<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref> Consequently, only a small amount of matzos can be baked at one time, and the ''chabura'' members are enjoined to work the dough constantly so that it is not allowed to ferment and rise. A special cutting tool is run over the dough just before baking to keep the matzos flat while baking; this creates the familiar dotted holes in the matzo.

After the matzos come out of the oven, the entire work area is scrubbed down and swept to make sure that no pieces of old, potentially leavened dough remain, as any stray pieces are now ''chametz'', and can contaminate the next batch of matzo.

===Passover dishes===
Due to the strict separation between matzo products and ''chametz'' during Passover, observant families typically own complete sets of serving dishes, glassware and silverware for use only during Passover. Under certain circumstances, some ''chametz'' utensils can be immersed in boiling water (''hagalat keilim'') to purge them of any traces of ''chametz'' may have accumulated during the year. Many [[Sephardic]] families thoroughly wash their year-round glassware and then use it for Passover, as the Sephardic position is that [[glass]] does not absorb enough traces of food to present a problem.

===Fasting===
{{main|Fast of the firstborn}}

On the morning before Passover, the [[fast of the firstborn]] takes place. This fast commemorates the salvation of the Israelite firstborns during the [[Plagues of Egypt#The plagues|Plague of the Firstborn]] (according to the Book of [[Exodus]], the tenth of ten plagues wrought upon [[ancient Egypt]] prior to the Exodus of the [[Children of Israel]]), when, according to Exodus (12:29): ''"...God struck every firstborn in the Land of Mitzrayim (ancient Egypt)...."'' Many authorities, including the [[Rema]], note the custom that fathers of firstborn sons are required to observe the fast if their son has not yet reached the age of [[Bar Mitzvah]]. In practice, however, most firstborns only fast until the end of the morning prayer service in synagogue. This is due to the widespread custom for a member of the congregation to conduct a ''[[siyum]]'' (ceremony marking the completion of a section of [[Torah]] learning) right after services and invite everyone to partake in a celebratory meal. According to widespread custom, partaking of this meal removes one's obligation to fast.
If the first born is a boy in a Jewish family, that boy will have to fast after he has his Bar Mitzva.

==The Passover Seder==
[[Image:Sedertable.jpg|thumb|250px|Table set for the Passover Seder]]
{{main|Passover Seder}}

It is traditional for a Jewish family to gather on the first night of Passover (first two nights outside the land of Israel) for a special dinner called a [[Passover Seder|Seder]] (סדר&mdash;derived from the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word for "order", referring to the very specific order of the ritual). The table is set with the finest china and silverware to reflect the importance of this meal. During this meal, the story of the Exodus from Egypt is retold using a special text called the [[Haggadah]]. Four cups of wine are consumed at various stages in the narrative. The Haggadah divides the night's procedure into these 14 parts:

#''Kadeish'' קדש (Recital of [[Kiddush]] blessing and drinking of the First Cup of Wine)
#''Urchatz'' ורחץ (The washing of the hands - sans blessing)
#''Karpas'' כרפס (Dipping of the [[Karpas]] in salt water)
#''Yachatz'' יחץ (Breaking the middle matzo; the larger piece becomes the ''[[afikoman]]'' which is eaten later during the ritual of ''Tzafun'')
#''Maggid'' מגיד (Retelling the Passover story, including the recital of the "[[Four Questions]]" and drinking of the Second Cup of Wine)
#''Rachtzah'' רחצה (Second washing of the hands - with blessing)
#''Motzi''-''Matzo'' מוציא-מצה (Traditional blessing before eating [[bread]] products followed by the Blessing before eating [[matzo]])
#''Maror'' מרור (Eating of the [[maror]])
#''Koreich'' כורך (Eating of a sandwich made of matzo and maror)
#''Shulchan Oreich'' שולחן עורך (lit. "set table"&mdash;the serving of the holiday meal)
#''Tzafun'' צפון (Eating of the ''[[afikoman]]'')
#''Bareich'' ברך (Blessing after the meal and drinking of the Third Cup of Wine)
#''[[Hallel]]'' הלל (Recital of the Hallel, traditionally recited on festivals; drinking of the Fourth Cup of Wine)
#''Nirtzah'' נירצה (Conclusion)

[[Image:Maurice Ascalon Pal-Bell Seder Plate.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Bronze [[matzo]] plate inscribed "''"Ha Lachma Anya"'' ("This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]],") the opening words of the "''Maggid''" (Retelling). Design: [[Maurice Ascalon]].]]The Seder is replete with questions, answers, and unusual practices (e.g. the recital of [[Kiddush]] which is not immediately followed by the blessing over bread, which is the traditional procedure for all other holiday meals) to arouse the interest and curiosity of the children at the table. The children are also rewarded with nuts and candies when they ask questions and participate in the discussion of the Exodus and its aftermath. Likewise, they are encouraged to search for the ''[[afikoman]]'', the piece of matzo which is the last thing eaten at the Seder. The child or children who discover the hiding place of the ''afikoman'' are rewarded with a prize or money. Audience participation and interaction is the rule, and many families' Seders last long into the night with animated discussions and much singing. The Seder concludes with additional songs of praise and faith printed in the Haggadah, including ''[[Chad Gadya]]'' ("One Kid Goat").

===''Maror''===
{{Main|Maror}}
[[Image:3TypesMaror.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Maror, one disallowed type and two acceptable kinds (L to R): "''chrein''" ([[Yiddish language|Yiddish]])- grated [[horseradish]] with cooked beets and sugar, not acceptable [[maror]] due to its sweetness; [[romaine lettuce]]; and whole horseradish root, often served grated.]]A commandment to eat ''Maror,'' bitter herbs (typically, [[horseradish]] or [[romaine lettuce]]), together with matzo and the Passover [[korban|sacrifice]] {{bibleverse||Exodus|12:8|HE}}. In the absence of the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]], Jews cannot bring the Passover sacrifice. This commandment is fulfilled today by the eating of ''Maror'' both by itself and together with matzo in a ''Koreich''-sandwich during the Passover Seder.

===Recounting the Exodus===
On the first night of Passover (first two nights outside [[Land of Israel|Israel]]), a Jew must recount the story of [[The Exodus|the Exodus from Egypt]]. This commandment is performed during the Passover Seder.

===The Four Cups of wine===
There is a Rabbinic obligation to drink four cups of wine (or grape juice) during the Seder. This applies to both men and women. The Mishnah says (Pes. 10:1) that even the poorest man in Israel has an obligation to drink. Each cup is connected to a different part of the Seder: The First Cup is for Kiddush, the Second Cup is connected with the recounting of the [[The Exodus|Exodus]], the drinking of the Third Cup concludes [[Birkat Hamazon]] and the Fourth Cup is associated with Hallel.

===Children in Passover===
Children have a very important role in the Passover Seder. Traditionally the youngest child is prompted to ask questions about the Passover Seder. The questions encourage the gathering to discuss the significance of the symbols in the meal. The questions asked by the child are:
''Why is this night different from all other nights?
Why tonight do we eat only unleavened bread?
Why tonight do we eat bitter herbs?
Why tonight do we dip them twice?
Why tonight do we all recline?''
Often the leader of the Seder and the other adults at the meal will use prompted responses from the Haggadha, which begin, “We must obey the command to talk about the Exodus from Egypt. The more one talks about it the more praiseworthy it is.” Many readings, prayers, and stories are used to recount the story of the Exodus. Many households add their own commentary and interpretation and often the story of the Jews is related to theme of liberation and its implications worldwide. Originally the Seder meal was eaten before the questions were asked, but today most families recount the story of the Exodus before the meal.

The [[afikoman]] is another part of the Seder meal that is used to engage children at Passover. In the beginning to the meal, the Leader takes the second piece of matzah and breaks it. The larger portion is put away as afikoman, which will be the last piece of food eaten during the evening as a reminder of the paschal sacrifice. Traditions vary in different areas, but in many homes, the afikoman is hidden and at a certain point in the meal, Zafun, children will be sent to search for the afikoman with an offer of a reward. This encourages children to stay awake for the whole Seder.

In some communities, such as the Ashkenazi, the children try during the meal to “steal” the afikoman from the leader of the Seder. The leader will hide the afikoman from the children. If the children are able to steal the afikoman, they will offer it back with a “ransom” of presents. They are promised the presents after the Seder, again being encouraged to stay awake for the whole celebration.

After the Hallel, the fourth glass of wine the hymn is recited that ends in “Next year in Jerusalem!” Following this, a sing-a-long ensues that consists of many cheerful and fun Hebrew songs. This part of the celebration is a reward for children who have stayed awake through the whole Seder. <ref>Afikoman. Dov Noy and Joseph Tabory. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 1. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. p434.</ref><ref>De Lange, Nicholas (2000). An Introduction to Judaism. New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press.</ref>

== Holiday week and related celebrations ==
In [[Land of Israel|Israel]], Passover lasts for seven days with the first and last days being major [[Jewish holidays|holidays]]. In [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] and [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] communities, no work is performed and most of the observances of [[Shabbat]] are adhered to on the first and last days. A seder is held on the first day.

Outside Israel, in [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] and [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] communities, the holiday lasts for eight days with the first two days and last two days being major holidays. A seder is conducted twice, on both the first and second days. In the intermediate days necessary work can be performed.

Like the holiday of [[Sukkot]], the intermediary days of Passover are known as [[Chol HaMoed]] (festival weekdays) and are imbued with a semi-festive status. It is a time for family outings and picnic lunches of matzo, hardboiled eggs, fruits and vegetables, and Passover treats such as [[macaroon]]s and homemade candies.

The prohibition against eating leavened food products and regular flour during Passover results in the increased consumption of potatoes, eggs and oil in addition to fresh milk and cheeses, fresh meat and chicken, and fresh fruit and vegetables. To make a "Passover cake," recipes call for [[Starch#Starch_in_food|potato starch]] or "Passover cake flour" (made from finely granulated matzo) instead of regular flour, and a large amount of eggs (8 and over) to achieve fluffiness. Cookie recipes use [[matzo farfel]] (broken bits of matzo) or ground nuts as the base. For families with [[Eastern Europe]]an backgrounds, [[borsht]], a soup made with [[beet]]s, is a Passover tradition.

Some [[hotel]]s, [[resort]]s, and even [[cruise ship]]s across [[United States|America]], [[Europe]] and [[Israel]] also undergo a thorough housecleaning and import of Passover foodstuffs to make their premises "[[kosher]] for Pesach", with the goal of attracting families for a week-long vacation. Besides their regular accommodations and on-site recreational facilities, these hotels assemble a package of lectures given by a "[[rabbi]] in residence," children's activities, and tours to entertain Passover guests. Each meal is a demonstration of the chefs' talents in turning the basic foodstuffs of Passover into a culinary feast.

===Counting of the Omer===
{{main|Counting of the Omer}}
Beginning on the second night of Passover, the 16th day of Nissan,<ref>[[Karaite]] Jews begin the count on the Sunday within the holiday week. This leads to Shavuot for the Karaites always falling on a Sunday.</ref> Jews begin the practice of the [[Counting of the Omer]], a nightly reminder of the approach of the holiday of [[Shavuot]] 50 days hence. Each night after the evening prayer service, men and women recite a special blessing and then enumerate the day of the Omer. On the first night, for example, they say, "Today is the first day in (or, to) the Omer"; on the second night, "Today is the second day in the Omer." The counting also involves weeks; thus, the seventh day is commemorated, "Today is the seventh day, which is one week in the Omer." The eighth day is marked, "Today is the eighth day, which is one week and one day in the Omer," etc.

When the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple stood in Jerusalem]], the Omer was an actual offering of a measure of barley, which was offered each of the 50 days. Since the destruction of the Temple, this offering is brought in word rather than deed.

One explanation for the Counting of the Omer is that it shows the connection between Passover and Shavuot. The physical freedom that the Israelites achieved at the Exodus from Egypt was only the beginning of a process that climaxed with the spiritual freedom they gained at the giving of the Torah at [[Biblical Mount Sinai|Mount Sinai]]. Another explanation is that the newborn nation which emerged after the Exodus needed time to learn their new responsibilities vis-a-vis Torah and [[mitzvot]] before accepting God's law. The distinction between the Omer offering&mdash;a measure of barley, typically animal fodder&mdash;and the Shavuot offering&mdash;two loaves of wheat bread, human food&mdash;symbolizes the transition process.

===Seventh day of Passover===

''Shvi'i shel Pesach'' (שביעי של פסח "seventh [day] of Passover") is another full [[Jewish holiday]], with special prayer services and festive meals. Outside the [[Land of Israel]] in the [[Jewish diaspora]], ''Shvi'i shel Pesach'' is celebrated on both the seventh and eighth days of Passover. This holiday commemorates the day the [[Children of Israel]] reached the [[Red Sea]] and witnessed both the miraculous "Splitting of the Sea," the drowning of all the Egyptian chariots, horses and soldiers that pursued them, and the [[Passage of the Red Sea]]. According to the [[Midrash]], only [[Pharaoh]] was spared to give testimony to the miracle that occurred.

[[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidic]] [[Rebbe]]s traditionally hold a ''[[Tish (Hasidic celebration)|tish]]'' on the night of ''Shvi'i shel Pesach'' and place a cup or bowl of water on the table before them. They use this opportunity to speak about the Splitting of the Sea to their disciples, and sing songs of praise to God.

=== Second Passover ===
{{main|Pesach Sheni}}
The "Second Passover" (''Pesach Sheni'') on the 14th of Iyar in the [[Hebrew Calendar]] is mentioned in the [[Hebrew Bible]] ([[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 9:6-13) as a make-up day for people who were unable to offer the pesach sacrifice at the appropriate time due to ritual impurity or distance from [[Jerusalem]]. Just as on the first Pesach night, breaking bones from the second Paschal offering (Numbers 9:12) or leaving meat over until morning (Numbers 9:12) were prohibited.

Today, Pesach Sheni on the 14th of Iyar has the status of a very minor holiday (so much so that many of the Jewish people have never even heard of it, and it essentially does not exist outside of [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] and traditional [[Conservative Judaism]]). There are not really any special prayers or observances that are considered Jewish law. The only change in the liturgy is that in some communities ''[[Tachanun]]'', a penitential prayer omitted on holidays, is not said. There is a custom, though not Jewish law, to eat just one piece of Matzah on that night.<ref>[http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/omer/5755/vol1no21.html Pesach Sheini]</ref>

==Influence in other religions==
According to Sunni [[Muslim]] tradition the fast of [[Ashura]] commemorates the [[The Exodus|liberation of Israelites from Egypt]]. It takes place on the [[10th]] day of [[Muharram]] in the [[Islamic Calendar]]. The start date of the actual fast varies from the [[9th]] of [[Muharram]] to the [[10th]], or from the [[10th]] to the [[11th]].

The [[Christian]] holiday of [[Easter]] is related to Passover. The holy day is actually called "Passover" in most languages other than English, and its central theme is that Christ was the paschal lamb in human form. Additionally, the [[New Testament]] relates that [[Christ]]'s [[Last Supper]] was a Passover ''seder'', but whether it was a first night or last (seventh) night ''seder'' is not clear. The latter seems more likely and it is known that the first Easter celebrations, by Jews who believed [[Jesus Christ]] to be the Messiah, were simply tacked on to the end of regular Passover celebrations. This historical calendaring of Passover may still be operational in some ancient or ancient-conforming independent churches.
The [[Eastern Orthodox]] holiday invariably still coincides with Passover, too, but this is by calendrical accident. In the Western and Eastern parish-centred traditions, Easter was fixed in medieval times to the full moon of the vernal equinox, reckoned functionally as March 21. But the Orthodox Churches continue to use the [[Julian Calendar]] more than 250 to 450 years after the Western churches adopted the [[Gregorian Calendar]]. Julian March 21 is the currently the same day as Gregorian April 3 - thus, the earliest Easter can fall on either calendar is March 22, but March 22 on the Julian Calendar is April 4 on the Gregorian. Jehovah's Witnesses are one of a few (usually) Western churches that do not observe Easter but, instead, observe only the [[Last Supper]] on the first evening of Passover; but they do not necessarily use the same date as the modern Jewish calendar, but it sometimes corresponds with the same full moon as the festival of [[Purim]]. <ref>Passover. Louis Jacobs, Ernst Kutsch, Rela M. Geffen, and Abram Kanof. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 15. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. p678-683.</ref>

The dates of Easter and Passover usually fall within a week or so of each other, but in years 3, 11, and 14 of the 19-year [[metonic cycle]], which is used in the [[Hebrew calendar]], Passover will fall about a month after the (Gregorian) Easter. This is because the metonic cycle does not correspond entirely to the length of the tropical year. So, over the centuries the date of the vernal equinox (which is March 21 by Christian reckoning) has been drifting to later and later dates in relation to metonic cycle. So, the rule for Passover, which was originally intended to track the vernal equinox, has gotten a few days off. In ancient times this was not a problem since Passover was set by actual observations of the New Moon and of the vernal equinox. However, after Hillel II standardized the Hebrew calendar in the 4th century, actual observations of celestial events no longer played a part in the determination of the date of Passover. The Gregorian calendar reform of 1582 brought the Western Church back into line with the astronomical cycle. Similarly, because of the interplay of these variables, Orthodox Easter occurs about a month after Gregorian Easter in years 3, 8, 11, 14 and 19 of the metonic cycle. In three of these years (years 3, 11 and 14), Passover also falls about a month after Gregorian Easter.

== See also ==
* [[Passover Seder]]
* [[Passover Seder Plate]]
* [[Kitniyot]]
* [[Fast of the Firstborn]]
* [[Haggadah of Pesach]]
* [[Passover (Christian holiday)]]

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{commonscat|Passover}}
*[http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default.asp Complete Guide to Passover] by [[Chabad.org]]
*[http://www.aish.com/holidays/passover/default.asp Complete Guide to Passover] by [[Aish HaTorah]]
{{Yeshiva site|link=http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/Emidrash.aspx?cat=103|type=Shiurim}}
{{Yeshiva site|link=http://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/eng/default.aspx?cat=126|type=Q&A}}

*{{CathEncy|wstitle=Pasch or Passover}}

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{{Passover Footer}}
{{Jewish and Israeli holidays}}
{{Time in religion and mythology}}

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[[Category:Passover| ]]
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[[ar:عيد الفصح اليهودي]]
[[ca:Pasqua jueva]]
[[cs:Pesach]]
[[da:Pesach]]
[[de:Pessach]]
[[es:Pésaj]]
[[eo:Pesaĥo]]
[[fa:پسح]]
[[fr:Pessa'h]]
[[fur:Pasche ebraiche]]
[[ko:과월절]]
[[id:Paskah Yahudi]]
[[is:Páskahald gyðinga]]
[[it:Pesach]]
[[he:פסח]]
[[sw:Pasaka ya Kiyahudi]]
[[la:Pascha]]
[[hu:Pészah]]
[[mn:Даван туулсан өдөр]]
[[nl:Pesach]]
[[ja:過越]]
[[no:Pesach]]
[[nn:Pesah]]
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[[pt:Pessach]]
[[ro:Pesah]]
[[ru:Песах]]
[[sk:Pesach]]
[[sl:Pasha]]
[[sr:Пасха]]
[[fi:Pesah]]
[[sv:Pesach]]
[[tl:Paskwa]]
[[th:ปัสกา]]
[[vi:Lễ Vượt Qua]]
[[tr:Hamursuz Bayramı]]
[[yi:פסח]]
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