The Passover And Its Customs

"One lamb was slain for every household and the blood painted onto the lintels and door posts. This was done in order that the angel of Death would not slay the first-born son of the Jewish households, but only those of Pharaoh's people, whom God had warned He would judge," says the book of Exodus.

"'When I see the blood, I will pass over you,' the Lord told the children of Israel." During their exodus, the Israelites (Jewish slaves) would eat lamb, unleavened bread and bitter herbs before their departure. Each year, the Passover is celebrated to commemorate the children of Israel's deliverance from slavery nearly 3,450 years ago.

There are many customs associated with the Passover. The Kaddesh is the blessing of wine. Urechatz refers to the washing of the hands before eating the Karpas, which is a vegetable (like parsley) that has been dipped in salt water. Yachatz refers to the breaking of the matzahs.

The Maggid (also sometimes called the Haggadah) is the storytelling portion of the ceremony. A blessing is given and everyone drinks the wine, just before the Rachtzah (the second washing of the hands) and the Ha-Motzi blessing is recited over the matzah. Next, several other dishes are eaten.

According to the Torah, a Jew may not consume or even possess "Chametz" during the Passover. Chametz refers to any grain (wheat, spelt, barley, oats and rye) that has come into contact with water for more than 18 minutes.

In some traditions "Kitnyot" is also forbidden because it is very similar to Chametz, so no rice, corn, soybeans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds or poppy seeds are allowed. It is sometimes said that Passover is "a feast without yeast." It can be confusing to know exactly what is or is not kosher, but most food labels alert consumers. This is what it means to be "kosher for Passover."

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The Seder Feast

The Seder is the most widely celebrated Jewish holiday, even among those who are not deeply religious. More than 80% of Jewish families have attended a Passover Seder, which includes a feast and prayers in the home, as opposed to a synagogue where much of their worship takes place.

While the Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, the Jews use this time of year to memorialize the Israelite Exodus out of Egypt, which is when their ancient ancestors were freed from slavery. It is also a time to give thanks because God spared them from the plagues that washed over Egypt, killing all the firstborn sons in one bloody night.

To maintain the universal structure and traditional nature of the Seder celebration, a Haggadah is purchased, which contains the text and rituals associated with the Passover feast.

Each family has their own paperback copy, but "The Family Haggadah" (Artscroll/Mesorah) and "Passover Haggadah" (Nathan Goldberg) are considered to be two of the better versions for Orthodox Jews. The Haggadah guides the celebration, instructing families what prayers and blessings to read, when to wash their hands, when to sing, what questions to ask and reiterating why this holiest of days is commemorated.

The Seder is traditionally associated with the Jewish faith, although it is not exclusive to their religion. Christians also hold Seders during Holy Week to celebrate Jesus, who was a Hebrew, and connect with ancient Messianic faiths.

Catholics see the Last Supper as a sort of Seder, so they may celebrate a Last Supper type meal with separate rituals and traditions. Often Christians and Jews celebrate Seders together to rejoice in their similarities, rather than their differences, since we live in such a global, interfaith prevalent society.

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