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Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich history and traditions of Pesach on April 22! Pesach, or Passover as it's commonly known, is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt and their transition from slavery to freedom. The holiday dates back thousands of years and is rich in symbolic rituals and foods, each element telling a piece of the exodus story. Pesach brings families together to retell this history and celebrate their enduring spirit. It's a truly magical time of reflection, remembrance, and rejoicing. So let’s together embrace this blessed journey of liberation and faith.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>c. 1300 BCE</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Exodus from Egypt</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Israelites were reputedly liberated from slavery in Egypt, an event that is commemorated during Pesach.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>5th Century BCE</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Establishment of Pesach Traditions</div><div class='timeline-text'>The traditions practiced during Pesach, including the Seder meal and the prohibition against chametz, were formalised during the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish people.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>70 CE</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Destruction of Second Temple</div><div class='timeline-text'>The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem marked a shift in Jewish religious observance from Temple-based to home-based rituals, including the Pesach Seder.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>160s </div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Finalization of Haggadah</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Haggadah, the text recited at the Pesach Seder, was finalized, including the story of the Exodus, the Four Questions, and rituals.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Modern Reformations</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Reform Movement in Judaism introduced changes to the Pesach observance, reducing the holiday's duration from eight days to seven.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1970s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Introduction of the Orange</div><div class='timeline-text'>In order to show solidarity with marginalized groups within Judaism, an orange was added to the Seder plate in some communities from the 1970s onward.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Personalize your Seder plate</h3><p class='facts-text'>The Seder plate is a centrepiece of the Pesach meal, holding the symbolic foods used to retell the Exodus story. This year, why not personalize your Seder plate? Find a beautiful dish and decorate it with symbolic items that represent your family's journey or personal elements of your faith.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Retell the Exodus story in your own way</h3><p class='facts-text'>This Pesach, take the time to create a new tradition by retelling the story of the Exodus in a way that speaks to your family specifically. Whether it's through a play, song, poem, or artwork, making this story your own can be a powerful way to connect to it.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prepare traditional dishes from different cultures</h3><p class='facts-text'>Broden your culinary horizons by trying out different traditional Pesach dishes from Jewish cultures around the world. This can be a great way to learn about and celebrate the beauty of Jewish diversity.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a virtual Seder</h3><p class='facts-text'>If you can't be with your loved ones in person, bring everyone together for a virtual Seder. You can still read the Haggadah, pray, sing, and enjoy traditional foods together through the magic of technology.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Conduct a Pesach-themed scavenger hunt</h3><p class='facts-text'>For a fun and educational activity for kids, plan a Pesach-themed scavenger hunt. You could hide items related to the holiday and tell the story of Exodus through clues, teaching children about the significance of each symbol in a fun and interactive way.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It brings families together</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Pesach is a time for families to gather together and celebrate their shared history and faith. Whether it's through the retelling of the Exodus story, or through shared meals and prayers, Pesach provides an opportunity for families to reconnect and reinforce their bonds.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages creative storytelling</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Retelling the Exodus story is an important part of Pesach. This encourages us to get creative in how we convey this message - through song, poetry, art, or even a play. The retelling also ensures that the values of liberation and faith are passed down through generations.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It celebrates Jewish history and diversity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Pesach is a commemoration of Jewish history and the strength of the Jewish people. By preparing traditional dishes from different cultures, we get to honor and celebrate the diversity within the Jewish community. This celebration of diversity adds a depth of meaning to Pesach, reminding us all of our shared history and faith.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The four cups of wine served symbolize the promises of liberation</h3><p class='facts-content'>Each of the four cups of wine drunk at the Pesach Seder corresponds to one of the four expressions of freedom that were promised to the Israelites: "I will bring out," "I will deliver," "I will redeem," and "I will take."</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Afikoman -- a game with rich meaning</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Afikoman, a half-piece of matzah set aside during the Seder meal, is often hidden for children to find, in a bid to keep them awake and engaged during the proceedings. It's eventually 'ransomed' back, symbolizing redemption.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Matzah is eaten as a sign of humility</h3><p class='facts-content'>Matzah, also called "the bread of affliction," is eaten during Pesach to symbolize the humility and quick departure of the Israelites from Egypt, who did not have time to let their bread rise.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The number four is abundantly symbolic in Pesach observances</h3><p class='facts-content'>From the Four Questions to the Four Sons, and the Four Cups of wine, the number four is incredibly significant in Pesach traditions, denoting completion and wholeness.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Seder plate holds six items, each with a unique symbolic meaning</h3><p class='facts-content'>The shank bone, egg, bitter herbs, charoset, karpas, and chazeret on the Seder plate each symbolize unique aspects of the Israelite's journey from slavery to freedom, like oppression, renewal, bitterness of slavery, and sweet taste of freedom.</p></div></div>
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