In the coming week, millions of Jews throughout the world will celebrate the annual festival of Passover.
The celebration, also known as Pesach, begins at nightfall on April 5 and continues through April 13. It commemorates the Exodus when Moses liberated the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
During this time, families typically gather for the traditional Seder ritual and observe severe dietary restrictions prohibiting ‘leavened’ items such as bread, pasta, cereals, and dough-based dishes for the period.
It is generally customary to offer holiday greetings to friends and family; but, if you want to wish Jewish friends or family members a happy Passover, what is the appropriate greeting?
Why is it Called Passover?
Passover commemorates the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt.
According to Chabad.org, the term is derived from the words “pass” and “over.” It is also the English translation of the Hebrew word Pesach, which means “skip” or “jump.”
The Jewish holiday commemorates the tenth and final plague that, according to the Torah, God launched on Pharaoh to convince him to release the Jews.
A changing custom: how families meet for the Passover seder in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak.
God commanded Moses to teach the Israelites to bring a lamb into their houses on the same night that he would kill every firstborn Egyptian child.
After slaughtering the lambs, the Israelis ate them with matzah (unleavened bread) and maror (bitter herbs). Then, they were commanded to smear the blood of the lamb on their doorposts as a message to God that this was an Israelite home that would be “passed over” while death hit the homes of the other firstborns.
How Does One Say “Happy Passover” in Hebrew?
There are multiple ways to send Passover greetings.
The most typical greeting is “Chag Sameach,” a common, all-purpose Hebrew greeting applicable to any Jewish holiday; it simply means “good holiday.”
Jewish holiday is translated as ‘Chag,’ while’sameach’ is derived from the Hebrew word’simcha,’ which means celebration (a word often used by Jewish people in conjunction with Barmitzvah and Batmitzvah parties as well as weddings and other significant parties)
However, there are a few ways to tweak it so that it fits in with Passover customs.
The Hebrew word for Passover is “Pesach,” so you could also say “Chag Pesach Sameach” or “Chag Pesach Kasher Vesame’ach” to spice things up a bit. (may you) enjoy a peaceful and observant Passover.
The standard festival greeting “Good Yom Tov” is also very common.
Yet, this would only apply to the first two days and last two days of Passover, as Yom Tov refers solely to certain festival days on which work and other activities are prohibited.
The middle four days of Passover are known as ‘chol hamoed’ (which literally translates mundane of the festival’) — when the festival’s food prohibitions are still in effect, but work and other usual activities can resume.
When Does Passover Start in 2023?
Passover will begin at sundown on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, and end either on Wednesday, April 12, or Thursday, April 13, depending on the family tradition.
The first two days and the last two days are honoured with the burning of candles and the consumption of holiday meals, respectively. Today, according to the Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center, some Jews do not work. This is not the case for the four Chol Hamoed days in the middle.
What Kinds of Foods Can I Eat During Passover?
According to Chabad.org, during Passover, Jews are forbidden to eat leavened or fermentable grains like wheat, barley, spelt, oats, and rye. Breads, pasta, cakes, cookies, pizza, beer, and some alcoholic beverages are off-limits.
During Passover, the only acceptable form of wheat flour is matzah.
To prepare kosher food for the holiday, even dishes must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any trace of the forbidden leavened food, called chametz.
Summary
Passover is a Jewish holiday commemorating the Exodus when Moses liberated the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. It is generally accepted to offer holiday greetings to friends and family, but what is the appropriate greeting? Passover begins on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, and ends on Thursday, April 13, with the burning of candles and the consumption of holiday meals.
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