Your Passover, Your Way: Resources to Make It Meaningful

March 24, 2025 | Shabbat and Holidays

As the days get longer and the flowers outside begin to bloom, Jewish people everywhere are preparing not just for the spring season, but for the holiday of Passover (Pesach in Hebrew.)

Known to some as the Festival of Freedom and others as “the one week a year we can’t eat leavened bread”, the Macks Jewish Connection Network hopes to provide ideas and resources to make your Passover holiday one of gratitude, redemption, and meaning.

When is Passover this year?

Passover begins at sundown on Saturday, April 12 and ends at sundown on Sunday, April 20. HebCal, is an incredible resource for all your Jewish calendar questions — it lists the dates of Passover through 2029!

 

What is the story of Passover?

Passover tells the story of how God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. After ten plagues, Pharaoh finally let them go. The last plague “passed over” the homes marked with lamb’s blood—sparing the Israelites. This event led to their escape, and Passover celebrates their freedom and God’s protection. PJ Library has a great resource for families looking to learn more about the Passover story.

 

So, how do I celebrate the holiday?

There are many rituals and traditions that Jews engage in as part of their Passover celebrations. Here are just some of those practices:

Cleaning for Passover
Before the holiday starts, families clean their homes to remove chametz (anything leavened). There are three ways to get rid of it: selling, searching, and burning. My Jewish Learning explains each one clearly.

Eating Matzah
During Passover, Jews eat matzah—a crunchy, unleavened bread—because the Israelites didn’t have time for their dough to rise. Tired of matzah pizza or matzah with cream cheese? Try some new matzah recipes to mix it up!

The Seder Meal
The Seder is a special dinner on the first two nights of Passover. It’s full of rituals, symbolic foods, storytelling, and songs. More on that below!

 

What’s a Passover Seder?

The Passover Seder is a special meal that takes place on the first two nights of Passover. It’s a ritual-filled gathering that tells the Passover story through food, prayer, and discussion.

Key Parts of the Seder:

The Seder Plate: This central plate holds symbolic foods that represent parts of the story:

• • • • • • • • • Matzah (unleavened bread) – the bread the Israelites ate in their rush to escape Egypt.
                • Maror and Chazeret (bitter herbs) – usually horseradish, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery.
                • Charoset – a sweet mixture of apples, nuts, and wine, symbolizing the mortar the Israelites used to make bricks in Egypt. Jamie Geller, a famous Kosher chef, shares charoset recipes from around the world!
                • Karpas (parsley or other greens) – representing springtime and the renewal of life.
                • Z’roa (shank bone) – symbolizing the lamb sacrificed in the temple during the time of the Exodus.
                • Beitzah (roasted egg) – symbolizing the holiday sacrifice and the cycle of life.
                • Miriam’s Cup – Honors Miriam, prophetess and sister of Moses, and represents her role in the Passover story.
                • Elijah’s Cup – Honors the prophet Elijah and is set aside as a symbol of the promise of redemption.

Reading the Haggadah: The Haggadah is the guidebook for the Seder. It includes prayers, songs, and questions that bring the story to life. Some highlights:

• • • • • • • • • The Four Questions: Asked by the youngest child, these spark conversation about what makes this night different. Shaboom!’s sing-along version is great for practicing!
                • Reciting the Ten Plagues: As each plague is named, we remove a drop of wine to show empathy for Egyptian suffering. A powerful reminder of the cost of freedom.
                • Singing Dayenu: This upbeat song thanks God for each miracle during the Exodus. The word Dayenu means “It would have been enough!”
                • Next Year in Jerusalem: L’shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim is how many Seders end—expressing hope for peace and wholeness. Learn more about this phrase.

The Four Cups of Wine: Four glasses (or grape juice!) are enjoyed throughout the night, representing four promises of freedom from God.

The Afikomen: A piece of matzah is hidden early in the night, and kids (or kids at heart!) hunt for it after dinner. The winner gets a prize! This is a fun way to keep everyone engaged.

 

What are other ways I can get in the Passover spirit?

Craft: Kids can enjoy making plague props with PJ Library or you can make your own afikomen bag with Make it Jewish.

Watch: Check out Hey Alma’s list of the best Passover TV episodes.

Listen: Get ready for the seders while listening to Spotify’s curated Passover playlist.

Eat: Try out one of Martha Stewart’s go-to Passover recipes.

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The Network offers you these resources in hopes that they will help bring you more meaning and connections to your Passover celebrations!