Last day of Passover

The last day of Passover marks the end of a Jewish holiday that celebrates the deliverance of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Passover is also known as Pesah, Pesach, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

What Do People Do?

The Passover period lasts for seven days in Israel, but in other countries people may observe it for seven or eight days. The first and last day (or two days in some countries outside Israel), are particularly important. People recite special blessings or prayers, make a particular effort to visit a synagogue or listen to readings from the Torah and eat a ceremonial meal.

Readings of the Haggadah, the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery and their exodus from Egypt are particularly important. The center of the ceremonial meal is the Seder Plate and red wine or red grape juice. Each food has a special meaning in relation to the Passover story.

Public Life

None of the Passover days are federal holidays in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States. However, many Jewish businesses and organizations are closed for some of the days or have restricted opening hours on others.

Background and symbols

Passover celebrates Jewish people’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It is one of the three pilgrim festivals. According to the Book of Exodus, God sent a number of plagues when Pharaoh refused to let Moses lead the Jewish people out of Egypt. The final plague, in which first-born sons of Egyptians were killed, finally persuaded Pharaoh to give in.

To commemorate the exodus from Egypt, Jewish families eat a ceremonial meal known as the Seder, which involves various symbolic foods, such as meat of the paschal lamb and bitter herbs (recalling the harsh life of slavery). The matzoh, which is a flat and unleavened bread, symbolizes the speed in which the Jewish people left when they were led out of Egypt. They did not have time to let their bread rise before baking it.

Jewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel

In the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances, with the exception of Yom Kippur, which lasts only one day worldwide, and Rosh Hashana, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora.

This custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon.

The beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for 2 days to make sure that the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.