Passover (Pesach) marks freedom for Israelites from slavery

Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am Adonai, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their slavery, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments; and I will take you to me as a people and I will be your God.
-- Exodus 6:6-7

Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning "order") and a festive meal. More about Pesach from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

The Virtual Seder Plate
Congregation Beth Chaim of Princeton Junction, NJ, has created this virtual Seder plate to explain the elements of the Seder meal. Click on the plate to visit their site and learn why the horseradish (symbolizing the bitter herbs, or maror) should be hot!

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Everything you ever wanted to know about Passover
Our partners at the Jewish Theological Seminary have put together a fabulous Passover page that provides a selection of commentaries, a guide for parents on leading the Seder, a Passover coloring book and a selection of electronic Passover greeting cards.

Passover and Easter
In 2002, Passover begins on March 28 which is also Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, in the Christian calendar. Originally Easter and Passover were observed at the same time. But while Passover is a fixed date, Christians change the date of Easter to make sure it occurs on a Sunday. Even so, the two festivals have much in common.

Which of the following concepts apply to Passover:

All of the above! Rabbi David Gelfand points out that, although there are significant differences between Passover and Easter, they share important characteristics.

Passover and Easter in the Holy Land
Israelis prepared for Passover this week with rituals to cleanse dishes and burn food that isn't kosher for Passover. more...

The True Miracle of Passover
The miracle, the NES, of Passover, can only be appreciated when we understand the connection between falling down (NEFILAH) and being lifted up again (SEMICHAH). This month of NISAN celebrates the great NES that we experience anew each year. We were once slaves and now, thank God, we are free. But freedom itself is no miracle. We have first to experience slavery to know what it is to be truly free. Perhaps this is why our Torah reminds us again and again: "You were strangers in the land of Egypt."

This Passover, let us celebrate and appreciate our freedom by dedicating ourselves to the unending task of helping all humanity know this same miracle.
-- Rabbi Josh Zweiback offers an ethical reflection on the meaning of Passover

Opportunities for Tzedakah
Passover presents us with many opportunities to fulfill our obligation to give tzedakah. Tzedakah is more than charity. Jews are supposed to give tzedakah as a matter of obligation, not just because we want to or because it feels good. We do it because giving tzedakah is part of being a righteous person, part of doing the right thing.

� Instead of storing away, selling, or burning your non-Pesach foods, bring your (unopened) items to a local soup kitchen or food pantry.

� When the afikomen is found, instead of giving the finder a gift, why not allow him/her to ransom it for a ten dollar (or more) contribution to the tzedakah recipient of his/her own choice? This way, the prize will reinforce the Pesach concept of acting on behalf of today's oppressed.

� Make room at your table for someone who may not have a seder to attend.

Contact a local synagogue to ask if there is anyone who you could invite to your seder. There could be someone from out-of-town, someone without any local family, or an immigrant family.

� Make a special contribution to MAZON, an organization that fights hunger locally and across the globe. As we are taught on Passover, "Let all who are hungry come and eat."

The Dysfunctional Family Seder Survival Guide
Pesach is a time for gathering together around the Seder table and reliving God's liberation of our people from Egyptian bondage with "signs and wonders". Unfortunately, this ritual does not free us from enslavement to our extended family and the bondage one feels to their obligatory annual presence. The "signs" of this togetherness include elevated blood pressure, shattered nerves, a churning sensation in the pit of your stomach, and a quick consult with your rabbi as to whether Valium and Buspar are Kosher for Passover.
-- Rabbi Burt E. Schuman has some fun with the stress of the holiday ritual.

Passover: A primer
Passover, or Pesach, is a remembrance of the liberation of the ancient Israelites from their 400 years of slavery in Egypt. The holiday has come to signify freedom and redemption.

The origins of Passover go back more than 3,000 years to a time when the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II held the Israelites in slavery. God told Moses, a Shepherd, to go to Ramses and demand the Israelites' freedom. When Ramses did not heed Moses' requests, God released 10 plagues upon the Egyptians. In the final plague God slew the first-born of every household. But the Israelites, following God's command, marked their doorways with the blood of a lamb. This was a sign for God to "pass over" their homes, leaving them unharmed. The story is told in the Book of Exodus, Chapters 6 through 12.

Many traditional Passover observances are intended to teach the story to children. At the Seder meal that begins the eight-day Passover observance (seven days in Israel), it is the youngest child who asks the 'four questions' that explain why this night is different from all others.

On this night we eat only unleavened bread, to remind us that when the Israelites fled Egypt, they had no time to bake. On this night We eat bitter herbs to symbolize the bitter cruelty of slavery. We dip parsley into salt water. The salt water symbolizes the tears of the Israelites, and the parsley reminds us of new growth. We recline in comfort on pillows to remind ourselves that we are now free.