Every religion sets aside certain times of year to remember and celebrate special events. Every festival reminds people of an important event in the story of their religion. A festival is a sacred time. It is a time to think and pray and be united with Jews everywhere past and present.
The following are a selection of key Jewish holy days and Festivals:
The following are a selection of key Jewish holy days and Festivals:
WHAT IS PESACH (PASSOVER) ?
Jews have an annual festival to celebrate their freedom. This is called PESACH (or Passover)
WHEN IS IT? It is a week long festival that takes place in early Spring. WHAT DOES IT CELEBRATE? It is a time when Jews remember how the Jews left slavery in Israel. This is told in Exodus 20. It states how God sent plagues to Egypt when Pharoah refused the request of Moses to let the Jews leave. The final plague was the death of first born children. It is said that God protected the Jews when they marked their doors with lambs blood - In this way God would pass over their houses protecting them from the plague. HOW IS IT CELEBRATED?
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President Obama enjoying a Seder with Jewish representatives
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The SEDER meal in every Jewish household follows the same order of events:
- The order is written down in a prayer book called a HAGGADAH
- A copy of the Haggadah is put in everyone's place at the table before the meal begins
- The FATHER of the family begins the service
- He lights the candles , fills the glasses with wine and says a blessing
- A large cup of wine is left on the table symbolically for the Prophet ELIJAH. This is poured away afterwards.
- The YOUNGEST CHILD in the family always asks the same question: WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?
- The Father replies by telling the story of Exodus. He teaches the meaning of the Exodus by pointing to different symbols on the table.
A SEDER plate is divided into sections. Each section contains an item of food. The different items remind Jewish people of their previous slavery in Egypt and their freedom when they left Egypt.
THERE ARE THREE OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS PLACED ON THE TABLE (But not the Seder plate)
At the Seder Jewish people gather to celebrate their freedom. Yet during the service they also think of those who still suffer lack of freedom in many parts of the world. The service ends with a blessing and the words
"Next year in Jerusalem,
Next year we all may be free"
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