April 12 is the important Jewish holiday of Passover: how to celebrate and what to eat on the Jewish Passover

In spring, Jews around the world celebrate Passover, one of the main Jewish holidays dedicated to the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. In 2025, it will be held from April 12 to 19. Izvestia tells us how Passover differs from the Christian Easter and what not to do during the celebration.

Passover and Easter: is it the same thing or not

Passover is often referred to as the Jewish Passover. Due to the similarity of names and the proximity of dates (Passover is celebrated in March-April, and Easter in April—May), many believe that this is the same holiday represented in two different cultures. There is a connection between the celebrations and the truth, but their meaning and content differ significantly.

Passover is a much more ancient holiday. It was established by the prophet Moses in memory of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. According to legend, the great-grandson of the founder of the Jewish people, Abraham, Joseph, was sold into slavery in Egypt, but thanks to his intelligence, he soon became Pharaoh's confidant. Subsequently, his father Jacob and his sons moved to the country. Together they became the progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel and the entire Jewish people.

Several generations later, the new Pharaoh decided to remove the Jews from power and began large-scale persecution. So the Children of Israel found themselves in slavery, which lasted 210 years. Finally, the prophet Moses, guided by the Almighty, came to Pharaoh and demanded that his compatriots be released. The ruler of Egypt refused, and then God sent 10 terrible plagues on the inhabitants of the country. It was only after the death of all the Egyptian firstborn that the Pharaoh granted freedom to the Jews.

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Easter is celebrated in memory of the miraculous Resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to the New Testament, a week before the celebration of the Jewish Passover, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to go through suffering and death, thereby redeeming the sins of mankind. Three days after his execution on the cross, the Son of God rose from the dead.

Passover and Easter are united by the motif of sacrifice. Traditionally, Jews sacrificed a lamb (lamb) to God on the holiday in gratitude for being freed from slavery. During the Last Supper, which took place on the first day of Passover, Jesus, anticipating the coming sufferings, called himself the lamb. By sacrificing Himself, he became the savior of all mankind, not just the Jewish people. Therefore, despite the common features, Passover and Easter are two completely different holidays.

How is the word Pesach translated, the stress in the word

From Hebrew, the word "Pesach" (emphasis on the first syllable) translates as "to leave" or "to pass by." This is due to the content of the last, 10th Egyptian execution.

According to legend, before Moses could lead his people out of Egypt, the inhabitants of the country experienced terrible torments: all the water turned into blood, the streets and houses were overrun with toads, midges and flies, livestock died, and painful sores appeared on the bodies of non-Jews. People suffered from locust infestations, devastating thunderstorms and lack of sunlight.

But all this did not convince the Pharaoh, and then the Almighty sent the last punishment to Egypt — the death of the firstborn. In one night, the eldest children of all Egyptians died. It seemed that death had looked into all the houses, including the Pharaoh's palace, but had bypassed the dwellings of the Jews. According to the Old Testament, the Jews had previously painted special signs on their doors with the blood of lambs, so they were not affected by the execution.

How to celebrate Passover: what should be on the table, what can and cannot be eaten

Preparations for Passover begin long before the holiday itself. Jews carry out general cleaning, prepare treats and decorate houses, as any work is prohibited on the first and last day of the holiday. Wealthy people give alms to the poor so that they can also take part in the celebration.

Before the beginning of Passover, you should also get rid of all products that have been prepared with chametz yeast. This ancient tradition arose due to the fact that on the day of the exodus from Egypt, Jews left their homes in a hurry and did not have time to bake bread, taking raw dough on the way. In the hot desert, the dough baked itself, and unleavened bread (matzo) became one of the traditional holiday treats.

On the eve of Passover, first-born men who have reached adulthood must observe strict fasting in memory of the salvation of Jewish children. If the eldest son is still too young, the father must observe the fast instead.

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On the first day of the celebration, the faithful visit the synagogue where the divine service is held. In the evening, every Jewish family gathers for a seder dinner. It is customary to invite all relatives to it, especially if one of them can stay on Passover alone. Matzo is served with bitter herbs (maror), reminiscent of the bitterness of slavery.

In addition to matzo and maror, it is customary to prepare five more dishes for the seder: haroset — a mixture of grated apples, dates and nuts, symbolizing the clay from which Jews made bricks during the years of slavery; zroa — a piece of fried meat on a bone, associated with a sacrificial lamb; beitza — boiled egg, reminiscent of festive sacrifices in Jerusalem; Hazeret is a grated horseradish used to make snacks.

During the feast, it is customary to tell children about the exodus of Jews from Egypt. So that the guys don't get bored, they are treated to sweets. Adults should drink four glasses of wine or grape juice, one for each promise made by G—d to the people of Israel: "And I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians..."; "And I will deliver you..."; "And I will save you..."; "And I will receive you...". The fifth glass is filled, but not touched, as it is intended for the Prophet Eliyahu (Elijah), who, according to legend, must return to earth and announce the beginning of the Last Judgment.

During the entire period of the celebration of Passover, it is forbidden to eat any products made on the basis of sourdough. This applies not only to bread, but also to other flour products made from wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt, as well as all yeast and malt products. Any product that can ferment belongs to the Chametz category and is prohibited for consumption on Passover.

The Musaf prayer on the days of Passover and Sukkot

On Saturdays and holidays, Jews recite a special Musaf prayer, which replaces the additional sacrifice. It is customary to read it on three pilgrimage holidays (Passover, Sukkot and Shavout), as well as on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and the new moon.

The Musaf prayer is recited during festive worship services. First, the faithful recite the Amidah (the main prayer of the Jewish divine service), consisting of seven blessings, and then a representative of the community repeats it on behalf of the congregation. Then Kaddish shalem (a prayer in Aramaic praising the Almighty) is recited, excerpts from the Written and Oral Torah are read, and then the Rabbinic Kaddish is recited. The Musaf ends with the prayer Aleinu leshabeah ("It is our duty to glorify the Lord of the whole world...") and a Memorial Kaddish.

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The full text of the Musaf prayer for Passover can be found on websites dedicated to Judaism. For example, here.

The Jewish Easter: what not to do on Passover

There are a number of prohibitions associated with Passover. So, on the first and last day of the celebration, any work is prohibited, including household chores. You can work normally between these days. You should also postpone haircuts and shaving during the holiday.

On Passover, it is strictly forbidden not only to eat chametz, but also to keep it in the house, even in very small quantities. Therefore, before the celebration, Jews try to give all such products to those in need or to atheists they know. If this is not possible, the Chametz is burned.

Earlier, Izvestia shared postcards and congratulations on Passover.