Passover, also called Pesah, is a Jewish festival that celebrates the flight of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, probably in the 1200’s B.C. The story of Passover is told in the Bible in Chapter 12 of the Book of Exodus. Passover begins in March or April, on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. Most Jews celebrate Passover for eight days, but Jews in Israel, and Reform Jews in other countries, celebrate it for seven days.
Jews celebrate Passover in their homes at a ceremonial feast called the Seder. At the Seder, the story of the flight of the Israelites is read from a book called the Haggadah. Foods symbolizing the flight from Egypt are placed on the table. The most important symbol is unleavened (unraised) bread called matzo (also spelled matzah). According to the Bible, when the Israelites fled, they did not have time to let their bread rise. They made flat, unleavened bread instead. Therefore, Jews eat matzahs instead of leavened bread during Passover.
The word Passover comes from the Biblical story of the 10th plague, which God brought on Egypt for keeping the Israelites in bondage. The story says God killed the first-born child in every Egyptian home but passed over the homes of the Israelites. The word Passover also refers to the passing over of the Israelites from slavery to freedom. 
Happy Passover Susan!
Happy Passover to all!!
Thanks for the info Susan, it motivated me to do some more digging and found recipes for a great dessert, Haroset.
In all the German speaking countries, Slavic nations and in HUNGARY this day is also known as “Green Thursday.” The word is a corruption of the German word grunen (to mourn) to the German word for green (grün). Many people believe they must eat green at today’s meal, which is probably derives from from the Jewish Passover meal that included bitter herbs.
Washing of Feet and a Seder Meal
In imitation of Christ’s last supper, many Christians prepare a seder meal or the pasch. Celebrating a paschal meal helps us comprehend the plan of redemption. We see the lamb, cooked whole, with no bones broken, foreshadowing the death of Christ, the Lamb of God. We eat the unleavened bread and recall to mind the Eucharist. We eat the whole meal in prayerful reminder of that Last Supper that Jesus spent with His apostles.
A typical paschal meal includes the roast lamb, bitter herbs, haroset, matzoh and wine. The meal can be as authentic or representative as desired. There are numerous sources, both Christian and Jewish, that can give recipes, prayers and procedure for an authentic paschal feast.
a.. We have prepared a Christian adaptation of a Passover Seder, simple enough for use in families with young children. This special meal stresses the Christian significance of elements of the traditional Jewish Passover meal (seder) as it may have been celebrated in our Lord’s time. .. we believe this festive family meal can be a very expressive way of helping young children to understand more about the historic origins of their faith as well as the importance of this day of Holy Week. (This is in the full edition of the Family Sourcebook for Lent and Easter.You may make photocopies of the service so everyone can have one.)
b.. Maundy Thursday’s emphasis on ritual washing also gave rise to the ancient tradition of spring cleaning, evidently related to the Jewish custom of ritually cleaning the home in preparation for the Feast of Passover. Everything was to be cleaned and polished in preparation for the Easter celebration. You can tell children about this tradition and ask to them to clean their rooms in order to observe Maundy Thursday. (Be sure to let us know if this works!)
SALATA DE MAROR
(Passover Bitter Herb Salad)
1 leek, white part only
5 cups torn romaine lettuce leaves
2 1/2 cups torn chicory leaves
2 1/2 cups torn endive lettuce leaves
1 1/2 cups torn arugula or watercress
2 green onions
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
1 large clove garlic, peeled and chopped ( 1/2 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Carefully wash and dry leek to remove all bits of sand. Cut into very
fine slices; place in a large mixing bowl.
Add romaine, chicory, endive and arugula to bowl. Wash and dry green
onions and slice finely. Add to bowl. Sprinkle parsley, dill and mint
over greens.
Put garlic into a mortar with salt and grind into a paste with a pestle.
Put paste into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Add lemon juice,
mayonnaise and oil to jar. Shake well to combine and pour over salad.
Toss well. Add black pepper to taste; toss again. Serve immediately.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings.
Original source: THE SEPHARDIC KITCHEN
Rabbi Robert Sternberg
Current source: “Meals, Memories, History, Heritage Influence Recipes
for the Passover Table”
ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH, 4/17/97
American Haroset
From Joan Nathan
1996
Ingredients
6 large apples
2 tbsps. sugar (about)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. sweet wine
1/2 c. chopped pecans
Directions
Core and quarter the apples. Put the apples in a food processor with the remaining ingredients. Process in pulses, leaving a bit of a crunch to the mixture. Adjust seasoning.
Yield: about 5 cups.
Note: In Shreveport, Louisiana, 95-year-old Isabelle Goldman uses sherry as her wine and adds raisins. Her recipe came from Alsace in the 1830’s.
Jewish Cooking in America by Joan Nathan (Alfred A. Knopf, copyright 1994 by Joan Nathan).
Haroset
(from Northern Africa)
Ingredients:
2-3 Tablespoons pine nuts.
1 diced apple.
1/4 cup sugar.
1/2 cup ground almonds.
Juice and grated peel of one lemon.
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
1/2 teaspoon ginger.
1/2 cup ground nuts.
1 hard boiled egg yolk.
Mix all the ingredients well!
SOME RECIPES INCLUDE HONEY AS WELL
NOW THAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS I BELIVE THAT I WILL MAKE SOME OF THIS FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS COMING OVER FOR DINNER THIS EASTER SUNDAY!!!! (After we scrub the house clean)
Thanks Michael 🙂 That’s quite a research you’ve done 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.PolgarChess.com