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Passover is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II.

The story of Passover is retold through the reading of the Haggadah, the Book of Exodus during the Seder – the traditional meal that is the focal point of the Passover celebration.

The Haggadah is the story of the birth of the Jews as a people. It deals primarily with the events in Egypt which led from slavery to liberation, though it also spans the entire period from Abraham to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. One could say that the Haggadah is our national birth certificate as well as our Declaration of Independence. More than just an historical document, it speaks of the ideals and values which constitute the essence of our national consciousness and identity.

Passover begins on the 15th night of the Jewish month of Nissan, this year (2004) the first night of Passover is Monday, April 5.