The holiday of Passover is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Jewish calendar. The history of Passover, like most Jewish holidays, is multi-layered. It began with the celebration of spring, the rebirth of nature, and the birth of baby animals. The Exodus from Egypt was a later layer, which became the central and compelling story of the holiday. Although the story of the liberation of the Jews from Egypt is central in religious Judaism, remnants of the older nature holidays, both pastoral and agricultural, are easy to identify, such as the shank bone and the matzah.

The themes of this holiday are universal. It is not difficult to identify with a story of liberation. There are many reasons why we celebrate Passover. Celebrating the holiday connects us to the Jewish people and our traditions. The theme of liberation and freedom is universal and timeless. 


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: Rabbi Miriam Jerris from the Society for Humanistic Judaism, March 2020