Exodus, the Book and Sort of Like the Song...

Pesach (passover) is nearly here. It begins on the 25th of March this year (2012) and ends on the 1st of April. It coincides with the Christian's Holy Week/Easter and also spring. This holiday commemorates the story of Exodus in which the ancient Israelites, led by Moses, were freed from slavery in Eygpt. 

During Pesach, the Jewish refrain from eating food that contains barley, wheat, rye and oats. Why you asked? Because the Israelites left in such a haste that there was no time for bread to rise. Which also makes Matza, unleavened bread, the food for this holiday. This is also the same reason why items with said ingredients in supermarkets will be off the shelves or covered (expect an update with photos). 

Matza

Pesach is also celebrated with the traditional passover meal (seder) in which families and friends gather together and retell the story of Exodus, read holy scriptures and say special prayers. The dinner, besides eating matza, also includes drinking four cups of wine, and eating symbolic foods placed in a seder plate. The most recent variation to this is an orange, which started in the 80s by Jewish Feminist group to symbolize fruitfulness of all Jews including women.

seder plate

March 25 Passover Eve

March 26 Passover

March 31 Second Passover Eve

April 1 Passover

Exodus By Bob Marley
We're leaving Babylon,
We're going to our Father land.
Exodus, movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah!
Send us another brother Moses!
From across the Red Sea!
Movement of Jah People!