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Click on the pictures above for more information about the holiday of Passover.
BACK TO SITE Traditions & Story 
Pesach or Passover is observed for seven days, eight outside of Israel. Pesach celebrates the freedom from two hundred years of Egyptian slavery. 
In Israel, the first and the seventh days are celebrated as full holidays. The five days in between, called the Intermediate Days (Chol Ha-Moed) are celebrated as half holidays. Outside of Israel, Passover is an eight day holiday. The first two days and the last two days are celebrated as full holidays, and the four Intermediate Days are celebrated as half holidays. Passover is a family holiday. It starts by cleaning the house of all Chametz (leaven) is out of the house. There is a ceremony to search for the Chametz and it is called Bedikat Chametz (the searching out of the leaven) and Biur Chametz (the burning of leaven). The highlight of Passover is the Seder (which means order). The Seder service is held at the dining table in most homes, and during the service the story of the Exodus from Egypt is told. The "order" of the Seder is told in a special book called the Haggada (which means narrative). 
Blessings 
I praise HaShem, who
is Lord and Ruler over all,
for bringing forth bread from the earth. 
I praise HaShem, who is Lord and Ruler over all, for teaching us the commandment of eating matza. 
I praise HaShem, who is Lord and Ruler over all, for teaching us the commandment of eating bitter herbs.
Four Questions for Passover To help get the children to get involved in the Seder, questions were designed to asked of the leader of the Seder. Most of the time it is the youngest child present that asks the questions, if no children are at the Seder then anyone can ask. Introductory Question 
Ma nishtana ha-laila ha-zeh mi-kol ha-lelot? Why is this night different from all other nights? First Question 
She-be-chol ha-lelot anu ochlin chametz u-matza, ha-laila ha-zeh kulo matza? Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matza, but on this night we eat matza? Second Question 
She-be-chol ha-lelot anu ochlin she-ar yetajit, ha-laila ha-zeh moror? Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on this night we eat bitter herbs? Third Question 
She-be-chol ha-lelot en anu matbilin afilu pa'am echat, ha-laila ha-zeh shetay fe'amim? Why is it on all other nights we do not dip even once, but on this night we dip twice? Fourth Question 
She-be-chol ha-lelot anu ochlin bayn yoshvin u-vayn mseubin, ha-lailaha-zeh kelanu mesubin? Why is it that on all other nights we eat either sitting or relining, but on this night we eat in a reclining position?
Order of the Passover Seder 1. Recite the Kiddush Kadesh 
2. Wash Hands Urchatz 
3. Eat the green vegetable Karpas 
4. Break the middle matza and hide half for Afikoman Yahatz 
5. Recite the Passover story Maggid 
6. Wash hands before meal Rachtzah 
7. Say Hamotzi and the special blessing for the matza Motzi matza 
8. Eat the bitter herb Maror 
9. Eat the bitter herb and matza together Koresh 
10. Serve the festive meal Shulchan Orech 
11. Eat the Afikoman Tzafun 
12. Say the grace after meal Barech 
13. Recite Hallel Hallel 
14. Conclude the Seder Nirtzah 
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