Passover - Part 1 of 2

Guest Blogger: Imelda Quibin

My Passover Experiences as a Foreign Worker in the Holy Land

Among Jews, Passover (Pesach) is the most holy and celebrated feast of the seven feasts of the Lord. It is observed by the very religious Jews (commonly called ultra-Orthodox), as well as by secular Jews.

During Passover, all Jews – whether religious or secular – share common activities: The boss in the kitchen (the mother) removes all bread with leaven from the house. Even breadcrumbs must be discarded. All leavened bread is burned in a designated area. The entire house gets thoroughly cleaned. One week before the feast, no one is allowed to see, eat, or talk about leavened bread inside the house. Instead of leavened bread, mothers prepare couscous, vegetables, and foods with a rice base. Or, families eat in restaurants. Mothers are usually very strict when it comes to cleaning and maintaining the house, especially when she has to keep the home leaven-free before the feast.

Since Jews regard this feast as holy, they have separate utensils, plates, pots, etc. in their kitchens that are to be used only for Passover. All utensils that will not be used for Passover are placed in a separate sealed cabinet.

Passover is a family oriented event. During my first Passover, the family I worked for allowed me to join their celebration. It was a great opportunity for me. I ate and drank with them; however, I was not allowed to eat the lamb they had roasted.

The celebration proper is called the “layla seder.” Seder means to organize. The table must be properly organized for the dinner. The seating arrangement is set from the eldest to youngest children.

There are a lot of prayers (Haggadah) of thanksgiving and singing. There are also dramas, usually performed by the children. Adults break Matzah bread and arrange it like a jigsaw puzzle. No pictures or videos are not allowed. It is an interesting feast, yet tiring: the dinner is eaten at midnight and usually finishes about 2 o’clock a.m. The men wake up early to continue praying in their synagogues.

(Note: I want to emphasize the strict ordinance of the Law. I observed and experienced that it is hard to follow the Law, year after year.)