DELTA DEIBA April News
In addition to being Earth Day, today is the first day of the Jewish celebration of Passover.
What is Passover?
Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is a significant Jewish festival celebrating the Jewish people’s escape from slavery in ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.
Celebrating Passover
This year Passover begins on Monday, April 22 at sundown and ends on Tuesday, April 30 at sundown. On April 22 and 23, more observant communities may take the days off from work.
During the first two nights of Passover, a Seder meal is hosted, which includes ritual blessings and symbolic food and drinks. At the Seder, a book called the Haggadah is recited to recount the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt to the promised land.
What about matzah?
Matzah, matzo, or maẓẓah is an unleavened flatbread that is the central symbol of Passover.
Throughout Passover, Jewish people are prohibited from eating leavened grains (known collectively as chametz) — any food or drink that contains even a trace of wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt or their derivatives. Chametz may not even be in the house when Passover begins. The only alcohol allowed is wine, which plays an important role at the Seder meal.
Learn more
- Watch: What is Passover?
- Engage: Hillel @ NC State is hosting a Passover Seder open to the community
- Learn: the significance of the 6 Passover foods, including matzah
- Read: The Passover story in short
- Discover: Jewish Studies Program at NC State
Looking ahead to May: