First Night Of Passover; Chag Sameach!

The Jewish holiday of Passover began Monday at sunset and continues for six more days. As many people are aware the holiday commemorates God leading the Jews from Egypt where they had been enslaved.

Chabad.org describes it briefly: “On Passover, we celebrate how G‑d took the Jewish People (Israelites) out of Egypt, where they had been enslaved by Pharaoh. With Moses as His representative, G‑d brought 10 plagues upon the Egyptians until they agreed to send the Jews from their land. When we read the Haggadah at the Seder meal, we retell this story to our children, who will one day retell it to their children. Also known as the story of Exodus, it is recorded in the Bible and is important to the Jewish people because it tells us how G‑d chose us to be His special people, which helps us understand our purpose and meaning in life”. (many Jews do not spell out the name of God in writing)

Most people who have Jewish friends are aware that the first night of Passover, or Pesach, is when the Seder is held in Israel and on the second night if one lives outside of Israel according to Chabad.org however many Jews in the U.S. and elsewhere hold Seder on the first night.

The Seder is thought of as the meal by many non-Jews, however Seder means order in Hebrew, and there are actually 15 steps in a Seder. The Seder is a feast that includes reading a book called "Haggadah," drinking four cups of wine, telling stories, eating special foods, such as Matzah and bitter herbs, telling the story of the Exodus, when the Jews left Egypt, singing, and other Passover traditions.