The Pesach (Passover) holiday, celebrating the liberation of Jews from their 210 years of slavery in Egyptian territory, begins this evening.
This year, Pesach starts Monday, April 22, and ends after sunset on Tuesday, April 30, when "the stars come out."
In Hebrew, Pesach means "to pass over, to skip."
According to the Torah, the Jews, who were used as slaves by Pharaoh in Egypt and burdened with heavy labor, were led out of Egypt by Moses with the help of God. However, their departure was so hasty and rushed that the Jews baked their bread without waiting for the dough to rise.
Therefore, during this holiday, no leavened products are consumed. Throughout Pesach, Jews eat unleavened bread called "matzah," made from unleavened dough. Jews on the Passover holiday cannot consume any leavened or fermented products, including wheat, barley, oats, rye, and related by-products (such as pasta, beer, bread, etc.). (AÖ/VK)
