Passover

More Jews celebrate the Passover holiday (also known as Pesach) in the United States than fast on Yom Kippur, making it the most widely celebrated Jewish holiday.  Passover is usually right around kids' spring break time; the date varies from year to year because it's based on the Jewish/lunar calendar.  The special traditions, meals featuring Passover recipes, and of course the Seder, all make Passover a unique and fun holiday to celebrate.   Some people joke that Passover, along with a few other Jewish holidays, can be summarized in one sentence:  “We were slaves, now we’re free, let’s eat!”

The Passover Story

Passover commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.  Some people believe that the meaning of Passover lies in retelling the story:  By following the rituals of Passover, Jewish people have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom that our ancestors gained.

After decades of backbreaking slavery and labor in ancient Egypt, Moses, the leader of the Jewish people, asked Pharaoh to “let my people go!”  When he refused, G-d intervened, and the Jews quickly (so quickly that they did not even have time for their bread to rise) escaped from the land of their enslavement, as detailed in the Hagaddah which we read through during the Seder.  

We observe the anniversary of the Exodus each year by removing all leavened items such as bread and baked goods from our homes for eight days, eating unleavened bread, or matzah (matza), and telling the story of exodus and redemption to our children.

The Passover Seder and Meal

The highlight of Passover is the Seder, observed on the first two nights of the holiday. The Seder (which means “order” when translated from Hebrew to English) is a family-oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast.

The focal points of the Seder are:

• Eating unleavened bread - matzah.  There is a joke we like to tell to our seder guests each year: “Did you hear about the new healthy, whole wheat Matza that was created this year? It’s fortified with Metamucil and called Let My People Go.”

• Eating bitter herbs—to remember the bitterness the Israelites endured as slaves.

• Drinking four cups of wine or grape juice, to celebrate our newfound freedom.

• The recitation of the Haggadah, which details the story of the Exodus from Egypt.  The Haggadah allows Jews to fulfill the biblical obligation to recount to our kids the story of the Exodus on the night of Passover.

Passover Bingo was designed to keep kids (and adults) entertained and engaged during the Passover Seder. This fun, interactive game can be played by children of all ages. For more information, please contact info@passoverbingo.com.