פֶּסַח(Pessach) in 🇮🇱 Israel

Passover in Israel, called Pesach, is a seven-day holiday (compared to eight days in the diaspora) that transforms the country. The festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt is observed with unique intensity in the land to which the Israelites journeyed. In the weeks before Pesach, Israelis engage in a frenzy of cleaning to remove all chametz, leavened products, from their homes.

Supermarkets cordon off or cover shelves containing chametz, and many stores sell only kosher-for-Passover products for the entire week. The burning of chametz on the morning before the Seder is a communal ritual performed in public spaces across the country. The Seder itself, held on the first night, is the central family gathering of the year for many Israeli families.

Israeli Seders range from deeply traditional to creative and secular. The Haggadah is read, the four questions are asked by the youngest child, and symbolic foods, including matzah, maror (bitter herbs), and charoset, are eaten. Israeli charoset varies by community: Ashkenazi families make it with apples and walnuts, while Sephardic versions use dates, figs, and various nuts.

Pesach is a national vacation week, and Israelis flood the beaches, national parks, and hiking trails. Historical sites related to the biblical narrative see increased visitors. The holiday meal features spring lamb, artichokes, and an array of matzah-based dishes. The intermediate days, Chol HaMoed, are a time for family outings and community events.

Major Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, observed with the Seder meal, unleavened bread (matzah), and the retelling of the Exodus story over seven or eight days.