Des Moines is just one of the millions of places where people will begin to celebrate Passover, an eight-day Jewish holiday.
Looking for more information about Passover? Searching for a seder to join? Here’s what you should know about the holiday in Iowa.
What are the Passover dates in 2026?
In 2026, Passover begins before sundown on Wednesday, April 1, and ends after nightfall on Thursday, April 9.
This year, Passover runs concurrently with the Christian Holy Week that begins on March 29 with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter on April 5.
What is Passover?
Passover, or Pesach, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt in 1313 B.C.E., according to chabad.org and Britannica.
In the Biblical story behind Passover, God saw the suffering of the enslaved Israelites and sent the prophet Moses to the ruling Egyptian Pharaoh to demand their freedom. When Pharaoh refused, God sent the 10 plagues to Egypt as punishment, destroying crops and livestock and afflicting the people, according to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
When God set the final plague upon Egypt, killing all of the firstborn children, the children of the Israelites were spared and their homes “passed over” by death − hence, the name “passover.”
This final plague broke Pharaoh’s resolve and the Israelites were able to flee, though in a hurry. They were in such a rush that the bread they had been baking to take along did not have time to rise, giving birth to the tradition of avoiding food with leavening agents, or “chametz,” during the observation of Passover.
How is Passover celebrated?
To remember the Israelites’ emancipation, some Jewish families or groups will display a Seder plate, the “centerpiece” of Seders, which holds symbolic foods marking the holiday. For example, maror, or bitter herbs, represent the bitterness of slavery.
Seders involve moving through a book called a Haggadah, which contains stories, prayers, poetry and other teachings,
Before Passover, families cleanse their homes − like spring cleaning − and the night before the holiday, they search for “chametz” items, such as bread crumbs. If found, these items are burned, Clémence Boulouque, associate professor of Jewish and Israel Studies at Columbia University in New York, previously told USA TODAY.
There are also restrictions on work, driving, writing or using electronic devices, depending on observation.
Are there seders in Des Moines?
Temple B’nai Jeshurun will host a seder on the first day of Passover on Wednesday, April 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The temple will also host Passover Festival Services on Thursday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 8.
Tifereth Israel Synagogue will host a Post Passover Pasta Palooza on Friday, April 10.
Maccabee’s Kosher Deli is also offering Passover ingredients to people who celebrate.
How to greet someone during Passover
According to IFCJ, you can use some of the following phrases to greet someone during Passover:
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What is Passover? See the dates for the 8-day long Jewish holiday.
Reporting by Lucia Cheng and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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