Today is Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the Resurrection. What about Passover? Often they coincide closely, not this year. Why? Since the turn of the century, Easter has overlapped with Passover every year but three: In 2005, 2008 and 2016.

In 2024, Passover will begin on April 22 and end on April 30. This also happens to be a Jewish leap year. Leap years are built into the lunar calendar because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so an extra month is added to certain years to make up the difference.

While Easter is fixed to the full moon, spring and Sunday, the Jewish calendar is fixed to Passover.

"The entire Jewish calendar is meant to keep Passover in the springtime," said Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg of the New City Jewish Center. "The Torah said Passover happens in aviv (spring in Hebrew), therefore we need to make sure Passover is in the spring."

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.