Jews celebrate Passover

April 23, MINSK . Jews in Belarus and around the world celebrate their main religious holiday - Passover.

Passover is a reminder of one of the key events of biblical history - the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, when the people freed from slavery were forced to wander through the desert for 40 years in search of the Promised Land.



The celebration of Passover begins on the eve of the 15th day of the month of Nisan (falls in March-April) according to the Jewish lunar calendar and lasts seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora countries. This year the holiday will last until April 30.

Translated, the word "passover" means "to go around, to pass by." The name of the holiday goes back to the Old Testament story of the ten plagues of Egypt. The Lord sent heavenly punishment to Egypt: all the firstborns died, except for the Jewish ones. The angel of death bypassed the houses of the Jews, marked with the blood of sacrificial lambs. That same night, the people of Israel, under the leadership of Moses, left the Egyptian lands.

According to the Divine plan, the exodus had to take place instantly so that the Egyptians would not provide adequate resistance. Before the exodus from Egypt, the Jews did not even have time to leaven the dough, so they baked unleavened flatbread (matzo). To this day, matzo serves as a symbol of exile from slavery and liberation.

Passover for Israelis is a time of pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The procedure for celebrating Passover is defined in detail in the Holy Scriptures (Torah). Throughout the days of Passover, the Torah prohibits the consumption of leavened food. This is the same food that the Jews did not have time to stock up on when they left Egypt . Also avoid foods that may ferment. Malt liquors, beer and other yeast-based alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

On the first and seventh days of Passover, all types of work are prohibited. The holiday week opens with a solemn service, followed by the solemn evening meal of Seder ("order" in Hebrew). The seder begins after returning from the synagogue: the whole family and guests gather around the table. During the Seder, blessings are said, prayers are read, and psalms are sung. One of the obligatory conditions is to invite all those in need to the festive table, as well as those who cannot celebrate Passover with their family. The best dishes and silver, candles, kosher wine , three large pieces of matzo and a specially decorated cup for the prophet Eliyah (Elijah) are placed

on the table . Plates with SALT water are certainly placed on the festive table - a symbol of the tears of ancient Jewish women, whose firstborns were taken away by order of Pharaoh, since, according to the prediction, a person was to be born in one of the Jewish families who would free people from slavery. During the meal, everyone must drink four glasses of wine in honor of the four cups mentioned in the Torah.

The last day of Passover is celebrated in a joyful atmosphere, with singing and dancing. At midnight, a ceremony for the division of sea waters is held in synagogues and religious schools. The eighth day of Passover is celebrated only in the diaspora regions, where the first two and final two days are holidays.