Passover

Passover, or Pesach, is a special holiday that Jewish people celebrate every year. It's a time when families and friends come together to remember an important event from a long time ago.

A long time ago, the Jewish people were slaves in ancient Egypt. They were treated very badly and had to work very hard for the Egyptian pharaoh. But then something amazing happened! A man named Moses came to them and helped them escape from slavery.

When the pharaoh refused to let the Jewish people go, Moses asked for some miracles to happen. These miracles are called the Ten Plagues. They were things like turning the water into blood, sending lots of frogs, and making it dark for three days.

Finally, the pharaoh agreed to let the Jewish people leave Egypt. They didn't have much time to prepare, so they took unleavened bread, which is bread without yeast, because it doesn't need time to rise. They also took their belongings and hurried out of Egypt.

That's why during Passover, Jewish people eat matzah, which is unleavened bread, to remember the quick escape from Egypt. They also have a special meal called the Seder, where they retell the story of the Exodus, which is the name for the Jewish people leaving Egypt.

During the Seder, they eat symbolic foods like bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery and sweet charoset, which represents the mortar they used to make bricks. They also drink four cups of wine or grape juice to celebrate freedom.

Passover lasts for about a week, and during this time, Jewish people don't eat any food made with yeast, like regular bread. They also avoid other foods that were part of the Jewish people's diet during their time in Egypt.

Passover is a time for Jewish families to come together, tell stories, sing songs, and remember the freedom their ancestors gained long ago. It's a celebration of hope, liberation, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

Y7 Judaism

Passover (Pesach)