Study Sheet – Passover

1. Overview

Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery.

Dates: 15-22 Nisan (8 days in the diaspora, 7 in Israel).

It is the holiday richest in practical obligations. Main requirements:

• Prohibition on owning, seeing, or eating chametz throughout the festival
• Eating matzah (at minimum on the Seder night)
• Retelling the story of the Exodus during the Seder (Haggadah)

2. Chametz

Chametz refers to any of the five grain species (wheat, barley, rye, spelt, oat) that has fermented for more than 18 minutes in contact with water. Three-fold prohibition: eating, possessing, and deriving benefit.

Matzah is flour mixed with water and baked without rising (under 18 minutes). Matzah shemurah (guarded) is made from grain supervised since harvest — required at the Seder according to many authorities.

Kitniyot: legumes and secondary grains (rice, corn, peas, lentils, beans) are forbidden for Ashkenazim by medieval custom (possible confusion with chametz). Sephardim permit them.

3. Shabbat HaGadol and the Fast of the Firstborn

Shabbat HaGadol: the Shabbat immediately before Passover. The Israelites took the paschal lamb — a courageous act since this animal was sacred to the Egyptians. The haftarah from Malachi announcing Elijah is read. The rabbi traditionally delivers a major discourse on the laws of Passover.

Ta'anit Bekhorot (14 Nisan): firstborns fast on the eve of Passover in memory of the miracle that spared them during the tenth plague. Often replaced by a siyyum (completion of a Talmudic tractate).

4. The Passover Seder

The Seder follows 15 mnemonic steps:

5. The Seder Plate (Ke'arat HaSeder)

• Matzah (3 matzot stacked): bread of freedom and affliction
• Maror: bitter herbs — bitterness of slavery
• Charoset: mixture (apples, nuts, wine, cinnamon) — the mortar of the slaves
• Zeroa: roasted bone — the paschal lamb
• Beitzah: hard-boiled egg — the festival sacrifice and symbol of mourning
• Karpas: vegetable — dipped in salt water (tears)

Four cups of wine: the four expressions of deliverance (Shemot 6:6-7): "I will bring you out… I will deliver you… I will redeem you… I will take you."

Fifth cup (Cup of Elijah): filled but not drunk, evoking future redemption.

6. The Four Questions and the Four Sons

Mah Nishtanah (four questions) asked by the youngest child: about the matzah, the maror, the two dippings, and the reclining position. They spark curiosity and launch the narrative.

7. Additional Elements of Passover

Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs): read on the Shabbat of Passover. Rabbi Akiva called it the "Holy of Holies." An allegory of the love between God and Israel.

7th day of Passover: commemorates the Splitting of the Sea (Keriat Yam Suf). The Shirah (Exodus 15) is read.

Pesach Sheni (14 Iyar): a "second Passover" for those who could not perform the paschal sacrifice in time. Symbolizes the possibility of teshuvah — it is never too late.

Hallel: full on the first two nights and days, then abbreviated during Chol HaMoed and the final days.

Key Takeaways – Summary