Passover falls in the Hebrew calendar on the dates of 14-21 Nissan.

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• Pesach (translated as Passover) is the major springtime festival celebrating the biblical Exodus from Egypt and the birth of the Jewish people. It is marked through eating matzah and refraining from chametz (forbidden grains on Passover). The central ritual, the seder (ordered ritual meal), happens at home with friends and family.

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• Customs here at Temple Tiferet Shalom include:

  • 2nd Day communal seder 

  • Sisterhood's Women's Seder

  • A Yizkor (memorial) service on the seventh day

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Tips for hosting a seder:

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1. Choose a haggadah (booklet which orders and explains the seder).

   • Make sure everyone has access to one. There are many types of haggadot, including some made especially for young children, social justice-oriented ones, those highlighting women’s voices, and those composed in a variety of different languages. 

2. Collect all the ritual objects:

   • Matzah 

   • Seder plate

   • Z’roa - shank bone or beet

   • Beitzah - egg

   • Karpas - greenery that grows from the ground (e.g., parsley)

   • Maror - bitter herbs (e.g., horseradish)

   • Chazeret - 2nd bitter herb (e.g., peppery lettuce)

   • Charoset - fruit and nut mixture symbolizing mortar

   • Orange

   • Salt water

   • Wine or grape juice - four glasses per person

   • Elijah’s Cup for wine

   • Miriam’s Cup for water

3. Prepare enough food for everyone. Check with your family or friends for traditional dishes that can make the seder special.

4. Have fun and be creative!

   • The haggadah will lay out the roadmap for the seder. Feel free to add any of your own readings, songs, and traditions you find meaningful and that your guests will enjoy.