* Passover is celebrated for 8 days, beginning on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. As told in the first 15 chapters of the biblical Book of Exodus.
* Before the Jewish people were known as Jewish or Jews - names that were derived from the region of Judea in what is today southern Israel where the word 'Judea' was itself named for the Hebrew tribe of Judah when they settled there - they were known as either Israelites or Hebrews.
* History of Passover relates back to over 3,000 years ago, when the Israelites were held as slaves by the Egyptian Pharaoh, Rameses II.
* During the time when Pharaoh issued his decree to kill Hebrew males, Moses, who later was to lead the Hebrews out of their slavery in Egypt to freedom, was an infant at this time and his concerned mother, Jochebed, placed him in a basket of reeds in the Nile River while Moses' sister Miriam watched from a distance to see who would come to find him. The basket was found by the Pharaoh's daughter, who decided to raise the infant as her own son and named him Moses.
* Moses grew strong and became a man. The lord spoke to Moses and set him on the course to looked after the cause of the Israelites.
* Moses asked Pharaoh several times to release his people from slavery, and warned Pharaoh that he would devastate Egypt by plagues.
* Moses inflicted 9 of the 10 plagues, and after all the 9 plagues, the Pharaoh agreed to release the Hebrews from slavery, but quickly changed his mind.
* After the 10th plague however, he let the Hebrew People go. They left in a hurry, and could only take unleavened bread with them, called Matza, which is a part of celebration even today.
* The Pharaoh sent his army after the Israelites so that they could be brought back.
The People traveled for 40 days and nights, and reached Red Sea, where they saw the emperor's army advancing towards them.
* In despair they asked for help from Moses, who parted the waters of Red Sea for them to cross. As soon as the Israelites crossed, the Red Sea regained and drowned the soldiers. |