(Community Matters)
Happy Passover
| Official name | Hebrew: פסח (Pesach) |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Jews, Samaritans |
| Type | One of the Three Pilgrim Festivals |
| Significance | Celebrates the Exodus, the freedom from slavery of the Children of Israel from ancient Egypt that followed the Ten Plagues.
Beginning of the 49 days of Counting of the Omer |
| Begins | 15th day of Nisan |
| Ends | 21st day of Nisan in Israel, and among some liberal Diaspora Jews; 22nd day of Nisan outside of Israel among more traditional Diaspora Jews. |
| 2009 date | sunset of April 8 to nightfall of 15 April / 16 April (7th day) |
| 2010 date | sunset of March 29 to nightfall of 5 April / 6 April (7th day) |
| 2011 date | sunset of April 18 to nightfall of 25 April / 26 April (7th day) |
| Celebrations | In Jewish practice, one or two festive Seder meals – first two nights; in the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Korban Pesach. In Samaritan practice, men gather for a religious ceremony on Mount Gerizim that includes the ancient Passover Sacrifice. |
| Related to | Shavuot (“Festival of Weeks”) which follows 49 days from the second night of Passover.
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