Passover 2025: A Celebration of Freedom

Passover 2025: A Celebration of Freedom

April 12, 2025 though April 20, 2015 this year, Jews worldwide will begin celebrating the religious holiday of Passover commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. 

The beginning of the holiday is celebrated with a ceremonial meal known as the Seder, where families and friends join together and read from the Passover Haggadah which retells the ancient biblical story from slavery to freedom.

A Seder plate is placed in the center of the dinner table displaying 6 symbolic foods to help tell the Biblical story.

1. Maror (Bitter Herbs) – Usually horseradish which represents the bitterness of being slaves .

2. Charoset – A sweet mixture of apples, nuts, wine, and spices, symbolizing the mortar used by Israelite slaves to build for Pharaoh.

3. Karpas (parsley or celery) – Represents springtime and renewal; However, it is dipped in saltwater to symbolize the tears of the many years of slavery.

4. Z’roa (Shank Bone) –symbolizing the Paschal (Passover) lamb that was sacrificed and eaten before the Israelites left Egypt.

5. Beitzah (Egg) – cycle of life and renewal.

6. Chazeret (Second Bitter Herb) – Often romaine lettuce, reinforcing the bitterness of slavery.

   
   

   

   Throughout the holiday, unleavened cracker-like "matzoh" is eaten instead of leavened regular bread because the Israelite's bread did not have time to rise when the Israelites were liberated from Egypt.

Many Jewish families attend synagogue prayer services and participate in festive Passover meals during the 8 days. 

The holiday is an opportunity to reflect on themes of gratitude, freedom and renewal, drawing connections between the ancient past and present-day struggles for justice and equality. 

Charoset recipe Ashkenazie and Sephardic