Pesach (Passover) is important to us since in it 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.
A seder is a meal to celebrate Passover in the Jewish religion
The Passover celebration commemorates the flight from Egypt. There was no Passover meal before the flight.
Yes, because Passover is a Jewish festival. see also:What_do_Jews_do_when_celebrating_passover
A:In the synoptic gospels - yes. When Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Passover feast, this would become the Christian Last Supper. After the supper was finished, they sang a hymn (Mark 14:26), as was the practice at the end of the Passover meal. For theological reasons, John's Gospel places the crucifixion on the day of preparation for the Passover - the day before. Jesus did not celebrate the Passover.
It depends on the person, but most people who feel an attachment to their customs would be upset if they couldn't observe them. There is also a second Passover to allow those who couldn't celebrate it a second opportunity, this is called Pesach Shenei.
There are always Jews who celebrate Passover regardless of the location or circumstances. Jews celebrated Passover in the ghettos, and then in the concentration camps.
yes
Irish Jews celebrate Passover the same way as Jews all over the world.
Conducting the Pesach (Passover) Seder meal Refraining from work on the days of Passover when work is forbidden by the Torah Praying, and reading the Torah-portions for each day Avoiding leavened foods (bread, etc.) during Passover, as commanded in the Torah (Exodus ch.12)
Passover is usually only celebrated by Jews
Passover is celebrated in the home.
German Jews celebrate Passover, too.