The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover is celebrated in early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan, April 1-9, 2026. Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Passover is observed by avoiding leaven and is highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.
The Seder is a 15-step, family-oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast.
As told in the Bible, after many decades of slavery to the Egyptian pharaohs, during which time the Israelites were subjected to backbreaking labor and unbearable horrors, G-d saw the people’s distress and sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: “Send forth My people, so that they may serve Me.” But despite numerous warnings, Pharaoh refused to heed G-d’s command. G-d then sent upon Egypt 10 devastating plagues, afflicting them and destroying everything from their livestock to their crops.
At the stroke of midnight on the 15th of Nissan in the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), G-d visited the last of the 10 plagues on the Egyptians, killing all their firstborn. While doing so, G-d spared the children of Israel, “passing over” their homes—hence the name of the holiday. Pharaoh’s resistance was broken, and he virtually chased his former slaves out of the land. The Israelites left in such a hurry, in fact, that the bread they baked as provisions for the way did not have time to rise. Six hundred thousand adult males, plus many more women and children, left Egypt on that day and began the trek to Mount Sinai and their birth as G-d’s chosen people.
In ancient times, the Passover observance included the sacrifice of the paschal lamb, which was roasted and eaten at the Seder on the first night of the holiday. This was the case until the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in the 1st century.
Passover, celebrating the greatest series of miracles ever experienced in history, is a time to reach above nature to the miraculous. But how are miracles achieved? Let’s take our cue from the matzah. Flat and unflavored, it embodies humility. Through ridding ourselves of inflated egos, we are able to tap into the miraculous well of divine energy we all have within our souls.
Now, especially in our current days, when we see the open miracles in Israel, we need to do whatever we can on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Israel. A great way to show our gratitude to G-d is by attending a Passover Seder. Through our prayers and efforts, Hashem will bless all of us with peace in the Holy Land and with the coming of Moshiach now.
For more information, please contact Rabbi Blachman at rabbi.ejc@gmail.com.
Rabbi Chaim Blachman serves as the rabbi of the Elmont Jewish Center.
