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Pesach At-A-Glance

The Four Sons from the Haggadah.

Courtesy the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary.

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor

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• Name Of The Holiday: Pesach in
Hebrew, Passover in English.
Pesach means "pass over," and refers to
the 10th and final plague that God
brought upon Egypt, where GOd killed
all first-born Egyptians, but passed over
the Jewish households (Exodus 12:21-
30).

• Why We Celebrate: In the Torah, God
commands the Jewish people to com-
memorate their liberation from Egyptian
slavery (Exodus 12: 14-19).

• When We Celebrate: On the Jewish
calendar, we observe Pesach from the
14th through the 22nd of Nisan, which
this year coincides with sundown, April
5, to sundown, April 13. Most Jews
observe an eight-day holiday, while some
celebrate for seven days. In Israel, the
holiday lasts seven days.
The first two and last two days of
Pesach are full holidays when, according
to Halachah (Jewish law), work is not
permitted. The intervening days are
semi-holidays when work is allowed.

• What We Celebrate: Primarily, we
recall our liberation from slavery to the Egyptians
3,000 years ago.
On a more profound level, we consider the founding
of the Jewish nation and the beginning of our relation-
ship with God on a national level.

• How To Celebrate: With prayer, fellowship, discus-
sion and food. Special prayers are recited at all services
for the entire holiday.
In observance of the Torah commandment, "You
shall tell your child" (Exodus 13:8), we gather with
family and friends to hold a commemorative meal

•

called a seder (order). The seder menu includes foods
intended to arouse curiosity from children and discus-
sion among all gathered on the many subjects that
revolve around Pesach. These include Jewish identity,
our relationship with God, the actual events of the
Exodus from Egypt, our life in Egypt prior to libera-
tion, miracles and so on. Among the best-known seder
foods are matzah (unleavened bread), a bitter vegetable
and four cups of wine.

• Rules And Regulations: There are many, most of
which are concerned with food. On Pesach, we refrain

Omer At-Aufflance

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor

• What It Is: A daily count of the 49 days, seven
weeks, between Pesach and Shavuot.

• Why We Do It: A commandment found in the
Torah (Leviticus 23:15-16).

• How And When We Do It: We begin the count on
the second night of Pesach. Thereafter, ideally, we
count as part of the daily evening service. The count
itself is preceded by a blessing. We then announce the

from consuming chametz, any foods that are leavened
or contain leavening (such as yeast). This includes
bread and other items made from dough or batter,
most foods and beverages made from grain, and any-
thing edible that even might contain any amount of
anything leavened.
All food for Pesach is certified as kosher for Passover
(kosher [Pesach) or is beyond suspicion of containing
any leaven. Instead of bread, we eat matzah, either
plain by itself or prepared with other ingredients to
make a variety of dishes. ❑

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relevant day and week of
the Omer.

• The Omer And Mourning: The first part of the
Omer period is characterized as semi-mournful. We do
not take haircuts, have or attend marriages, or play
musical instruments. As stated in the Talmud, during
this period, a plague decimated the disciples of Rabbi
Akiva because they did not treat each other with
respect. Later sources point to the Omer as a period of
mourning, for it was during that time of the year in
1096 and 1146 that Jews in the Rhineland were killed
by the crusaders. Moreover, the Chmielnicki massacres
in the Ukraine and Poland (1648-49) also took place
during this period.

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• Lag b'Omer: This is the 33rd day of the Omer (lag is
the acronym formed from the Hebrew letters lamed
and gimeh which signify 33) on which mourning is
suspended. It is usually a day of joy and celebration.
Hair may be cut and weddings may be held. Among
those Jews who do not cut their sons' hair until the
boys reach the age of 3, Lag b'Omer is the day chosen
for the first haircut.
A long-standing tradition is to light bonfires and for
children to play with bows and arrows on Lag b'Omer.
For unknown reasons, Lag b'Omer is associated with
Bar Kochba, the Jewish leader of a revolt against the
Roman occupation during the time of Rabbi Akiva.
This year, Lag b'Omer occurs on Sunday, May 9. ❑

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