What Is Passover (Pesach)? Meaning, History, and Traditions Explained

Passover, known in Hebrew as Pesach, is one of the most foundational holidays in Jewish life. It marks the moment when the Jewish people were freed from slavery in ancient Egypt and became a nation guided by faith, responsibility, and memory.

More than a historical commemoration, Passover is a living experience. Through ritual, storytelling, and symbolic foods, each generation is invited to relive the journey from oppression to freedom and to reflect on what that journey means today.

What Does Passover Commemorate?

Passover recalls the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt, when the Israelites were released from generations of forced labor under Pharaoh. According to tradition, God sent a series of plagues upon Egypt, the final one striking only the Egyptian firstborn while passing over the homes of the Israelites—hence the name Pesach, meaning “to pass over.”

This moment is understood as the birth of the Jewish people as a free nation, no longer defined by servitude but by moral responsibility and covenant.

When Is Passover Observed?

Passover begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, usually falling in March or April. The holiday lasts:

• Seven days in Israel
• Eight days in the Diaspora

The first nights are marked by the Passover Seder, while the remaining days continue the themes of remembrance and restraint.

The Passover Seder: Telling the Story

The Seder is the centerpiece of Passover observance. It is a structured meal designed to guide participants through the story of the Exodus using a text called the Haggadah.

During the Seder, families and guests:

• Retell the Exodus story
• Ask and answer questions
• Eat symbolic foods
• Sing traditional songs

The goal is not only to remember the past, but to feel personally connected to it—as if each participant had left Egypt themselves.

Key Symbols of Passover

Passover is rich in symbolism, much of it experienced through food:

• Matzah – Unleavened bread representing both haste and humility
• Maror – Bitter herbs recalling the bitterness of slavery
• Charoset – A sweet mixture symbolizing the mortar used by enslaved Israelites
• Four cups of wine – Expressions of redemption and freedom

These items are arranged on a Seder plate, each with a specific role in the telling of the story.

Why Is Leavened Food Avoided?

During Passover, Jews refrain from eating chametz—leavened grain products such as bread, pasta, and most baked goods. This practice recalls how the Israelites left Egypt in such haste that their dough did not have time to rise.

On a deeper level, avoiding chametz encourages mindfulness, simplicity, and self-examination, stripping daily life down to essentials for the duration of the holiday.

Passover in the Home

Preparation for Passover often begins well before the holiday itself. Homes are cleaned, kitchens reorganized, and special Passover dishes brought out. Many families use designated Passover Seder items and tableware to set the holiday apart from the rest of the year.

These preparations transform the home into a space that reflects renewal, intention, and respect for tradition.

Freedom as a Living Value

While Passover looks back to ancient history, its message is timeless. The holiday challenges each generation to consider what freedom truly means—not only freedom from physical oppression, but freedom of thought, conscience, and moral choice.

By retelling the story year after year, Passover ensures that freedom is never taken for granted, and that memory remains a guide for how we live today.