Pesah
Description
Pesach is one of the most well-known and widely celebrated Jewish holidays. It symbolizes a crucial milestone in Jewish history: the Exodus from Egypt, which led to the birth of the nation. Additionally, this event is tied to the foundational principles of Judaism: faith, the pursuit of freedom, and serving God.
Pesach begins with a festive dinner called a seder. The central feature on the table is a special seder plate, which holds bitter herbs symbolizing the bitterness of slavery and green herbs representing the arrival of spring.
The greens (usually parsley) are dipped in saltwater to recall the tears that filled the lives of Jewish ancestors.
Other symbolic items on the plate include a lamb bone, a boiled egg, and a special mixture of apples, nuts, and spices.
During Pesach, no leavened products should be present on the table or in the home. They must be discarded or sold to a non-Jew. Consequently, Israel annually sells all its chametz (leavened bread products) produced for the week to an Arab citizen of the country. For 20 years, this fortunate buyer has been Hussein Jaber, who purchases everything from the Ministry of Finance for a substantial sum and cancels the transaction a week later.
