15 Nisan – 22 Nisan (23 outside Israel) · The Festival of Freedom
Pesach (פֶּסַח), known in English as Passover, is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated beginning on the 15th of Nisan and lasting seven days in Israel (eight days in the Diaspora). Pesach commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, when God redeemed the Israelites from slavery under Pharaoh after the Ten Plagues, and they crossed the Sea of Reeds to freedom.
The word Pesach means "to pass over," referring to how God "passed over" the homes of the Israelites when striking the firstborn of Egypt. It is also called Chag HaAviv (Festival of Spring), Chag HaMatzot (Festival of Unleavened Bread), and Z'man Cheiruteinu (Season of Our Freedom).
The central themes of Pesach are freedom, faith, and the ongoing responsibility of every Jew to see themselves as if they personally left Egypt: "In every generation, a person is obligated to see themselves as if they personally left Egypt." (Haggadah)
The Passover Seder (סֵדֶר, meaning "order") is the ceremonial meal held on the first night of Pesach (and the second night in the Diaspora). It follows a precise order of 15 steps, guided by the Haggadah — the text that retells the Exodus story:
The Four Cups of wine correspond to the four expressions of redemption in Exodus 6:6–7. A fifth cup — the Cup of Elijah — is poured but not drunk, representing the future redemption.
Matzah (מַצָּה) — unleavened bread made only from flour and water, baked in under 18 minutes — is the central food of Pesach. It carries dual symbolism:
Bread of Affliction (Lechem Oni): Matzah recalls the poor, simple bread the Israelites ate as slaves in Egypt. We begin the Maggid by holding up the matzah and declaring: "This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in Egypt."
Bread of Faith (Lechem Emunah): Matzah also represents the haste of redemption. When the Israelites left Egypt, they had no time to let their dough rise — they carried it on their shoulders and baked it in the desert sun. This represents complete trust in God.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that these two aspects are not contradictory — it is precisely through acknowledging our lowliness and dependence on God that we achieve true freedom. The matzah reminds us that the greatest liberation comes from within.
Maror (מָרוֹר) — bitter herbs, usually horseradish or romaine lettuce — is eaten to recall the bitterness of slavery. We eat it even in our freedom, so we never forget the suffering of the past and the preciousness of liberty.
Chametz (חָמֵץ) refers to any leavened product made from the five grains (wheat, barley, spelt, oats, rye) that has been allowed to ferment. The Torah explicitly prohibits owning, eating, or even seeing chametz during Pesach (Exodus 12:15, 13:7).
The process of chametz removal involves several steps:
All chametz must be removed or sold by the morning of Pesach Eve (around 10–11 AM, depending on the year). After that time, even benefiting from chametz is forbidden.
Chabad-Lubavitch has rich and distinct Pesach customs rooted in Kabbalistic and Chassidic tradition:
The Rebbe taught that the Haggadah is not merely a historical retelling but a living manual for personal liberation: each year, we must identify our own "Egypt" — our inner limitations — and work to transcend them through Torah and mitzvot.
Pesach 2026 begins at nightfall on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (15 Nisan 5786), and lasts until Wednesday, April 8 in Israel (April 9 in the Diaspora). The first and last days are Yom Tov (full holidays); the days in between are Chol HaMoed (intermediate days).
The Seder is the ceremonial Passover meal conducted on the first night (and second night outside Israel) of Pesach. It follows 15 ordered steps guided by the Haggadah, including the retelling of the Exodus, drinking four cups of wine, eating matzah and maror, and concluding with songs and prayers for redemption.
Matzah is eaten for two reasons: (1) To recall the "bread of affliction" the Israelites ate as slaves in Egypt; and (2) to remember that when the Israelites left Egypt in haste, their dough had no time to rise. Eating matzah connects us to both the bitterness of slavery and the joy of sudden, miraculous freedom.
Chametz is any leavened product made from the five grains (wheat, barley, spelt, oats, rye) that has fermented. The Torah explicitly forbids owning, eating, or seeing chametz during Pesach. The removal process — cleaning, searching, burning, and sometimes selling — is a major spiritual and physical preparation for the holiday.
Four cups of wine are drunk at the Seder, corresponding to the four expressions of redemption promised by God in Exodus 6:6–7. A fifth cup — the Cup of Elijah — is poured but left on the table, representing the future, final redemption and the prophet Elijah who will herald the Messiah.
The Haggadah (הַגָּדָה, meaning "telling") is the text used to guide the Passover Seder. It contains the story of the Exodus, prayers, blessings, songs, Rabbinic commentary, and instructions for the Seder's 15 steps. The word connects to the commandment: "And you shall tell your child on that day..." (Exodus 13:8). Chabad publishes a renowned Haggadah with commentary from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The Rebbe taught: "When you help another Jew study Torah, it is as if you studied it yourself."
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