or the Passover is a Jewish holiday rich in tradition and symbolism. It follows the story found in Exodus 12 describing their exodus from Egypt and bondage. Five days before Pesach, Israelites were to select an unblemished lamb. Four days later they were to slaughter and prepare the lamb for a feast. Bitter herbs, unleavened bread, and the lamb in its entirety were to be eaten. Any left over lamb was to be burned rather than saved. The blood from the lambs slaughter was to be placed on the doorposts of each house to tell an avenging angel to "pass over" their house and not execute judgment by slaying the family's firstborn child.
The Pesach festival continues for seven or eight days with a number of other celebrations. The Seder takes place at the dinner table where the symbols of the Passover meal are retold. Each of the food items in the meal are symbolic as well. The bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery, the unleavened bread because they didn't have time to make leavened bread, a bone of lamb to show paschal sacrifice, nuts and berries to represent mortar, greenery to represent life and salty water to represent a slave's tears. The food is eaten in a specific order while its deeper meaning is discussed to those attending. An extra setting is placed on the table and the door is left open for Elijah should he choose to attend the meal.
The format of Seder is provided by the Haggadah, a book containing the story of the exodus as it has been passed down through Jewish legend. It also contains songs, blessings, psalms, and Four Questions. These four questions ask why unleavened bread is eaten, why bitter herbs are eaten, why certain ceremonies are performed, and why dining is done in a reclining position. Usually the youngest present will ask the questions while the father responds.
Synagogue Passover practices today include special readings for each day of the festival. Exodus 12:21-51 is read the first day. It recounts the first observance of the Passover ordinances. On subsequent days, biblical texts are read in remembrance of the Israelite celebration at Gilgal after they had crossed the Jordan River, Moses' receiving the second set of tablets containing the 10 Commandments, the account of the resurrection of the valley of dry bones symbolizing the spiritual rebirth of Israel, descriptions of the departure from Egypt and the miraculous events at the Red Sea, and a summary of sacrificial and ritual laws for Passover. Finally a passage from Isaiah (10:32-12:6) is read describing the Messianic era or "Passover of the Future."
