Published: 22 April 2024
Tonight (22 April) will mark the start of Pesach, or Passover, an major eight-day Jewish festival which celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery.
Gili Nachshen, President of the St George’s Students’ Union Jewish Society, spoke to us about the origins, traditions and importance of Pesach.
The origins of Passover
Gili told us: "Pesach commemorates the redemption of the Jewish people from 210 years of enslavement by the Egyptians, more than 3000 years ago."
On the first two nights of the festival, we have a Seder (Say-der) - which is an experiential meal accompanied by a book called the Haggadah. In 15 steps, the meal progresses and the story of Hashem bringing the Jews out of Egypt is retold.
- Gili Nachshen, President of the St George’s Students’ Union Jewish Society -
"This starts with our enslavement, Moshe's (Moses) attempts to persuade Pharoah to let us go, the 10 plagues Egypt suffers as a result of his hard-heartedness, the Israelite's eventual release, and culminating with songs of Jewish Identity, and of yearning to return to Israel."
Symbolic food
There are many symbolic foods eaten. Matzah, a simple unleavened cracker/flatbread, is to remind us of the fact we left Egypt in such a hurry that the dough prepared the night before baked on our backs in the desert sun. We may not eat - or even own - any leavened bread throughout Pesach - or any grain allowed to rise.
- Gili Nachshen, President of the St George’s Students’ Union Jewish Society -
"Marror, bitter herbs, are eaten to symbolise the bitter and harsh treatment of the Jews in slavery by the Egyptians.
"Charoset, a paste of date, apple, wine, nut, and spices is eaten to symbolise the cement we were made to make in slavery.
"Four cups of wine/grape juice are drunk to represent the four expressions of redemption mentioned in the Torah.
"There are many others too - some of which we don't eat but are on the table to symbolise the Korbanot (sacrifices) we would have offered in the times of the Temple at Pesach."
Passover's traditions
"There are many traditions we observe too. As mentioned above, we are not allowed to own any risen grain products (Chametz) - it must all be sold or burnt before the first nightfall."
There are traditional rituals of searching the house by candlelight for any leftover Chametz, and a burning of what was found in the morning.
- Gili Nachshen, President of the St George’s Students’ Union Jewish Society -
Find out more about the St George’s Students’ Union Jewish Society.