Passover is an important Jewish holiday that celebrates freedom and remembrance. It commemorates the story from the Hebrew Bible in which the ancient Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt over 3,000 years ago. According to the story, God sent plagues to convince Pharaoh to free the Israelites, and during the final plague, God “passed over” the homes of the Israelites, sparing them while striking the Egyptian firstborn. This event finally led Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt.

Jewish families celebrate Passover for seven or eight days each spring with special meals called seders. During the seder, families read the story of the Exodus from a book called the Haggadah, eat symbolic foods, and ask questions about why this night is different from all other nights. One key tradition is eating matzah, a flat, cracker-like bread that represents how the Israelites had to leave Egypt so quickly they couldn't wait for their bread to rise.

The holiday emphasizes themes that resonate across cultures: freedom from oppression, the importance of remembering difficult history, and hope for a better future. Many families use the seder as a time to discuss modern forms of injustice and freedom. Passover remains one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays, connecting Jewish people around the world to their history and to each other.