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Passover FAQ -- All About Passover
Rate it! Votes (0) | Comments (0) By Ella Jean Mandell Posted August 6th, 2007 FabulousFoods.com Recommends: Passover Cookery : In the Kitchen with Joan Kekst, by Joan Kekst, (2001, Five Star Publications (AZ))	Passover Cookery : In the Kitchen with Joan Kekst

• What is Passover?
• Why is it called Passover?
• What is a Seder?
• What is the Seder Plate?
• What are some Passover food traditions?
• How is Wine used in the Ceremony?
• What are the Passover four questions?

What is Passover?
Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is one of the most important Jewish festivals. Celebrated in late March or early April, Passover is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. According to the Book of Exodus, Moses was instructed by God to go to the pharaoh and demand the freedom of his people. When his pleas were ignored, Moses warned the Pharaoh that God would send severe punishments to the people of Egypt if the Israelites were not freed. Still, the Pharaoh ignored Moses' request of freedom. In response God unleashed a series of 10 terrible plagues on the people of Egypt.

Still, the Pharaoh refused to free the Jewish slaves, until the last of the plagues. The Israelites left their homes so quickly that there wasn't time to bake breads. They packed raw dough to take with them on their which they quickly baked in the hot sun. The resulting hard crackers are called matzohs, and are to this day, an important Passover symbol.

But even as the Israelites left Egypt, they were pursued by the Pharaoh's army through the desert. It seemed like their journey would end at the Red Sea where they were trapped from escape. But a miracle occurred when the waves of the Red Sea parted and the Israelites were able to cross to the other side. After reaching safety, the sea closed sweeping away the Pharaoh's army. The Israelites were finally free and Passover celebrates this rich history. TOP

Why is it called Passover?
Pesach means protection in Hebrew and the name refers to the book of Exodus where, in order to encourage the Pharaoh to free the Israelites, God intended to kill the first-born of both man and beast, but would pass over the houses of the chosen. To protect themselves, the Israelites were told to mark their dwellings with lamb's blood so that God could identify and "pass over" their homes. It is interesting to note that the Christian feast called Easter in English is called Passover in many other languages (Pascha, Pascuas, Paques). TOP

What is a Seder?
The Seder, from the Hebrew word for order, is the celebratory meal eaten on the first two nights of Passover. Before the meal can begin, the story of the Exodus is retold. Certain foods are eaten in a set order during the ceremony. TOP

What is the Seder Plate?
The centerpiece of the Passover table is the Seder Plate, a special plate that contains the five foods which symbolize the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. In addition to the Seder Plate, three pieces of matzoh are encased in a special cover (usually a cloth sleeve or envelope) and placed in the center of the table. TOP

What are some Passover food traditions?
Throughout Passover week only unleavened bread, or matzo is eaten. Those adhering to strict tradition will abstain from all leavened food and even from non-leavened food not prepared for the festival with special care. TOP

How is Wine used in the Ceremony?
Adults are required to drink four glasses of wine at various moments in the ceremony. These glasses represent the four stages of exodus: freedom, deliverance, redemption, release. A goblet of wine for Elijah the Prophet is also placed on the seder table in the symbolic hope that he will join the celebration and partake of the wine.

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