Passover By: Clay Lorigan

Passover is a Jewish holiday that lasts for seven to eight days(depending on where you live in the world). It celebrates the emancipation of Israelites from Egyptian slavery. This year, it will take place from April 22 to April 30.Passover is commonly celebrated by eating matzah (unleavened bread, bread made without rising agents) and maror (bitter herbs). It’s called Passover (or Pesach, meaning “to pass over”) because the tenth plague passed over the Jewish homes when killing the Egyptian firstborn on the first Passover eve, sparing the ones who obeyed the Lord by putting lamb’s blood on their doorframe. During seder, a traditional Passover dinner, the story is told, and bitter herbs are eaten to “taste” the bitterness the Israelites endured during slavery. Passover is used to both connect with their history and draw attention to present-day issues of injustice (both in and out of the Jewish community). When Mrs. Betts, a social studies teacher at Lenape Tech, was asked what all she knew about Passover, she said, “Passover is the story of the Jewish population that were able to escape slavery in Egypt by following Moses. They eat Matzah (unleavened bread) during this time.” She then further stated, “To be respectful, those who are not Jewish or do not follow the faith, can learn about the holiday to understand the meaning and reasoning behind it. There are many organizations and events during this time that are dedicated to instilling kindness, as well.” Noah Wysocki, an ADT student, was also asked if he knew anything about Passover. He replied, “Not much, I just know that it’s a Jewish holiday.” During this time, it’s very important to stay respectful of the culture and its people.