Holiday Overview
What is passover?
a Jewish spring festival that celebrates freedom and family
What is Seder?
a festive meal that takes place on the first night where family and friends join together to celebrate
This type of bread is eaten during Passover to remember the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt.
matzah
the kiddush
What Christian holiday is most similar to Passover?
Easter
Why is passover important?
it marks the birth of the Jewish nation and celebrates the Jews' freedom from the Pharaoh
What celebration highlights freedom, family, and tradition by telling stories and singing songs?
Seder
This object on the seder plate symbolizes the bitterness of slavery experienced by the Hebrew people.
a bitter herb (maror)
What blessing brings forth bread from the earth?
blessing the matzah
What does Easter celebrate in Christianity?
the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life
How many days is Passover celebrated for?
7 or 8 days depending on family or communal custom
stick clearly to the prohibition of chametz by buying new items or cleaning surfaces to remove any traces of leavening
This ritual meal, whose name means “order,” includes 15 traditional steps and retells the story of Exodus.
the seder
a blessing for celebrating the new season
Why are Passover and Easter considered similar holidays?
They occur around the same time and both celebrate themes of liberation—Passover focuses on physical freedom from slavery, while Easter focuses on spiritual freedom from sin.
What does Passover commemorate?
the story of the Exodus where Moses led God's people out of Egypt where they were suffering from the Pharaoh
How long do Jewish families get rid of leavened bread products from their households during Passover?
7-8 days
This special cup is poured during the seder to represent hope for a future redemption.
the Cup of Elijah
psalms of praise
How is the Christian tradition of Communion connected to Passover?
Communion comes from the Last Supper, where Jesus used the unleavened bread and wine from the Passover Seder to represent his body and blood.
What days is Passover observed this year?
April 1 - April 8
What is the reform variation for passover?
use shorter and more updated Haggadot with contemporary struggles for liberation, many of them celebrate for 7 days rather than 8
This part of the seder involves telling the story of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt and is based on the Book of Exodus.
Maggid
What is the Candle Lighting Blessing?
a blessing recited by the women of the household, thanking God for the commandment to light the candles
How do the ideas of the Paschal Lamb and Jesus’ resurrection show a deeper connection between Passover and Easter?
In Passover, the lamb’s blood protected the Israelites, symbolizing salvation. Christians see Jesus as the Paschal Lamb whose death and resurrection bring salvation and freedom from sin, connecting the two holidays on a deeper spiritual level