The celebration of Passover within the Jewish community begins after sundown on April 5 and continues for eight days. This is a time for family, rejoicing, and the retelling of Hebrew history. In Israel, the celebration lasts seven days and signals the beginning of the harvest season.
This feast, also known as Pesach, is the first of three major festivals. Pesach in Hebrew means 'passing over,' in reference to how God passed over the houses of the Jews in Egypt while punishing their captors.
The name Pesach is also said to have been the name of the sacrificial lamb offered in the Temple before the Exodus of the Jews. Another name for this observance is Z'man Cherutenu, which means 'the Time of Our Freedom.'
The Fast of the Firstborn is observed on the day before Passover. Firstborn Jewish males fast to commemorate that the firstborn sons of the Israelites were spared in Egypt.
Seders are observed on the first two nights of Passover. At Seder dinners, the youngest child of the household traditionally recites or sings the Four Questions. The teaching exercise begins with asking, "Why is this night different from all other nights?" If there are no children in the household, anyone may ask the questions.
