Passover is a Jewish holiday that begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar. It commemorates the biblical story of the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. The holiday begins with a Seder, a special ritual meal, which is held on the first and second nights of the holiday (the night of the 14th and 15th of Nisan). During the Seder, the Haggadah is read, which tells the story of the Exodus and outlines the symbolic foods and rituals of the Seder plate. Passover is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays and is a time for families and communities to come together to remember and retell the story of the Israelites’ journey to freedom. Passover 2023 will begin on the evening of Saturday, April 15th, and end on the evening of Saturday, April 22nd.
During Passover, there are certain dietary restrictions that observant Jews follow, which means they avoid eating leavened bread, grains, and certain other foods that are not considered “Kosher for Passover.” Instead, they eat matzo (unleavened bread), which is a symbol of the hasty departure from Egypt, and a variety of other foods that are permissible during the holiday. Some of the traditional foods that are commonly eaten during Passover include matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, roasted lamb, charoset (a sweet mixture of fruit and nuts), horseradish, and a variety of vegetable dishes. Many families also have their own unique Passover recipes and traditions that have been passed down through generations.