The word "current" is a bit out of place, since Passover entails ancient unchanged observances.
Durin Passover (Pesach) we relive the Exodus from Egypt and our birth as a nation, both of which were preparations for receiving the Torah from God.
The highlight of Passover is the Seder meal. This meal is of great importance in Judaism. It is a 3325-year old continuous tradition that began on the night of the Exodus from Egypt (see Exodus chapter 12), and is fully detailed in our ancient Oral Traditions (Talmud, chapter Arvei Pesachim).
The Seder meal is one of those occasions, like Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, that Jews all over the world, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, observe in common. During the Seder, we keep the essential mitzva and customs of handing Jewish traditions down to the next generation, with the traditional Seder foods and the ceremony of reading the Passover Haggadah which retells the events of the Exodus.
During the Seder meal, other traditional foods are eaten in addition to the matzah: bitter herbs, parsley, wine and haroset (see below). Salt water, a roasted egg, and a bit of roasted meat are also on the table.
During all the days of Passover, matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten; while leavened foods such as bread, cake, cookies, cereal and pasta are forbidden. Certain prayers are added in the synagogue services, and the Torah is read each day.
Here is the symbolism of the items on the Seder plate:
The bitter herbs (maror) symbolize the harsh slavery which the Israelites suffered in Egypt. Either horseradish or romaine lettuce is traditionally used for maror.
Charoset - A sweet mixture representing the mortar used by the Jewish slaves to build the storehouses of Egypt. In Ashkenazi Jewish homes, charoset is traditionally made from chopped nuts, grated apples, cinnamon, and sweet red wine.
Karpas - A vegetable other than bitter herbs, traditionally parsley, which is dipped into salt water at the beginning of the Seder. The dipping of a simple vegetable into salt water (which represents tears) recalls the pain felt by the Jewish slaves in Egypt.
Beitzah - A hard-boiled egg, symbolizing the korban chagigah (festival sacrifice) that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem and roasted and eaten as part of the meal on Seder night. Although both the Pesach sacrifice and the chagigah were meat offerings, the chagigah is commemorated by an egg, a symbol of mourning.
Z'roa - A roasted lamb or goat shank-bone, chicken wing, or chicken neck; symbolizing the korban Pesach (Pesach sacrifice), which was a lamb that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem, then roasted and eaten as part of the meal on Seder night.
Yes.
Yes, artichokes can be eaten during Passover. They are a kosher food and do not contain any leavened grains or legumes which are prohibited during the Passover holiday. However, it is always best to consult with a rabbi or observe personal customs and traditions when determining specific dietary guidelines for Passover.
The word 'seder' is Hebrew for 'order'. The Jewish Seder is the ceremonial meal in Passover, during which, according to a set of ancient customs and text, we recount the Exodus from Egypt.
There is no tradition of gift giving during Passover.
the Israelites did not leave during passover. When they did leave it was Moses who lead them.
Only if it's certified kosher for Passover.
Jewish law doesn't permit fasting during Passover.
Evelyn Zusman has written: 'The Passover parrot' -- subject(s): Children's stories, American, Customs and practices, Fiction, Judaism, Parrots, Passover
It means that you can't eat them during Passover.
Passover isn't a person, it's an event. The first passover took place during the Israelite exodus from Egypt.
Lamb can be kosher for Passover. However, Ashkenazi Jews traditionally do not eat lamb during Passover.
Passover is not a time of fasting, so Jewish people can eat during the middle of the day during Passover.