Passover is celebrated by Jews every year, remembering the anniversary of our miraculous liberation from slavery in Egypt, as recorded in the Bible. Passover, Pesach in Hebrew, will start immediately after sundown when the Sabbath ends next Saturday night, March 27, continuing for eight days until after sunset on Sunday night, April 4th for those living outside of Israel. When living in Israel, where it happened, Passover is observed for seven days.
Outside of Israel, Passover are celebrated and observed with a Seder on both nights. The Seder is a detailed 15 step feast of reenacting liberation, redemption and the Exodus to freedom. Some of the highlights are drinking four cups of wine, dipping vegetables in salt water and eating bitter herbs to remember the tears, pain and harsh conditions of slavery, and eating matzah, remembering that our ancestors fled Egypt without the flour and water of the unleavened bread having time to rise.
During the entire Passover holiday, Jews are forbidden to eat, to own, or to derive benefit from chametz, all food products and anything containing grain that has risen. Before the Passover holiday, homes and especially kitchens and refrigerators are thoroughly cleansed of chametz, and any remaining chametz is burned or sold. For all your Passover needs, which may include specially handmade shmurah matzah, Seder packages, information on how to kasher your kitchen for Passover, or to join a Seder, please contact Chabad of Yonkers Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz, email at Rabbi@JewishYonkers.com or call 914-963-8888.
