Pesach

Pesach, which falls on the 14th day of Nisan, celebrates our people's freedom from bondage under Pharaoh in the land of Mitzrayim, as recounted in the Book of Exodus (Shemot).  For seven days, we eat matzah and consume no leavened products, to remind us of our biblical forebears who fled before their bread could rise.  We also share a ritual meal, a Pesach seder, in which we retell the story of our exodus.  

Our synagogue is cleared of all leavened products before  Pesach, and we gather for a communal seder on the 2nd night of Pesach.  We also hold a Pesach morning festival service, and a 7th day Yizkor service.

"In every generation," reads our Haggadah (order of service for the seder), "each person must see him or herself as having personally gone forth from Mitzrayim (Egypt)."  Each year, we are to remember that we were slaves and strangers in a strange land, so that we will each work to end oppression of all peoples, in every era.