Passover or Pesach is the first of the three major festivals in the Jewish calendar. (The other two are Shavu’ot and Sukkot). Passover occurs in spring and is followed seven weeks later by Shavu’ot. Sukkot occurs in autumn. Thanks to our sister site, NYC on the Cheap for many of the following ideas.
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About Passover
Passover commemorates the biblical story of Exodus. As the story goes, Moses pleaded with the Pharaoh to free the Egyptian Hebrews after 400 years of slavery. The Pharoah refused. In retribution, God bestows ten plagues on Egypt (blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of all firstborn).
The plagues do the trick, and the people of Israel are freed. The complete story is told in the Book of Exodus, Chapters 1-15. The plagues are described in chapters 7-11. So, ultimately Passover is a celebration of freedom.
When the Israelites were freed, legend has it they left in a hurry and could not wait for their bread dough to rise. For this reason, Pesach (Passover) is observed by avoiding chametz or leavened bread (including even the presence of chametz in the house). Since no leavened (raised) bread is eaten during Passover, it is replaced with an unleavened bread called matzo or matzah.
The Jews left Egypt on the first day of Passover. However, they were pursued by the Egyptians until the parting of the Red Sea, which occurred seven days later.
Moses parting the Red Sea – DepositPhotos.com
The Passover Seder
The first night of Passover begins with the Seder, a ceremonial meal accompanied by the retelling the story of the Exodus. The Seder meal contains six foods, used in an orderly ritual to commemorate the story of the Exodus.
- matzah (unleavened flatbread)
- zeroa (shankbone), beitzah (hard-boiled egg)
- maror and/or chazeret (bitter herbs such as horseradish or chicory)
- charoset (a sweet mixture that is often made of apples, nuts, wine, and traditional spices)
- karpas or raw vegetable (usually parsley, celery, or a boiled potato)
- salt or vinegar
During the Seder, a guide called the Haggadah is used, which means “telling”. Its primary purpose is to guide participants through the ritual meal, and indicates when and how each food is used to retell the story of the Israelites Exodus from Egypt.
Other Passover customs include cleaning the home and lighting candles.
A Passover Seder plate – DepositPhotos.com
Passover 2022
The following sections offer ideas for Seattle Passover resources, including Seder customs, haggadahs, recipes, and activities and inspiration for children.
In 2022, Passover begins at sundown on April 15, 2022 (the Seder) and ends at nightfall on April 23.
Seattle Passover Resources
Jewish in Seattle magazine. SagaCity Media made the difficult decision to end publication of Jewish in Seattle magazine in 2021 because of the pandemic’s ongoing economic impacts on magazine publishing. Past issues will remain available indefinitely on: https://www.jewishinseattle.org/community-services/jewish-in-seattle-magazine/
Seattle Kosher restaurants, caterers, bakeries, and other grocery resources. Stores in Seattle likely to carry kosher foods include:
- PCC Community Markets at the View Ridge and Columbia City stores.
- QFC stores Passover shopping. Save time and order the items on your Passover food list for pickup or delivery.
- Uwajimaya stores fresh fish department in Seattle, Renton, and Bellevue
- Seattle Kosher online grocery
Find a Passover Seder near you. Community Seder are offered at Chabad throughout the region. Cost varies; RSVP required.
Passover preparations
Passover Seder and Haggadah
- Seder Preparations (chabad.org)
- New ‘Haggadah’: A Sacred Text, And A Good Read (npr.org)
- How to dip into the New American Haggadah (UW Stroum Center)
- Review: How square is the hipster haggadah? (UW Stroum Center)
Passover Haggadah and matzah – DepositPhotos.com
Passover Recipes
Passover Just for Kids
Passover events
Multiple locations
