What is Passover?

Passover, also known as Pesach, is a Jewish festival that commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The holiday is observed for seven or eight days and is marked by special prayers, rituals, and traditional foods.

Why is Passover Celebrated?

Passover is celebrated to remember and honor the story of the Exodus, when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt after they were enslaved for generations. The holiday also symbolizes the renewal of spring and the coming of a new season.

Key Traditions and Customs

Seder Meal: The Seder, a special ritual meal, is the focal point of Passover. It includes the retelling of the Exodus story, consumption of symbolic foods, and recitation of prayers and blessings.
Matzah: Unleavened bread, known as matzah, is a central element of Passover, representing the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt, leaving no time for their bread to rise.
Four Cups of Wine: During the Seder, four cups of wine are consumed, each representing a different aspect of the Exodus story and the promise of freedom.
Passover Haggadah: This is a text that contains the order of the Passover Seder, including the story of Exodus, prayers, and songs.

Passover Foods

Traditional Passover foods include matzah ball soup, gefilte fish, brisket, and various desserts made without leavening agents. It is customary to avoid leavened bread and products during Passover, and instead, consume unleavened bread and other symbolic foods.

Passover and Modern Significance

Passover continues to be a time for Jewish families to come together, reflect on their history, and reaffirm their commitment to freedom and justice. The themes of liberation and redemption are universal, making Passover a meaningful holiday for Jews around the world.

◂Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides Fifth Grade. First Americans

The resources above cover the following skills:

National Standards for Civics and Government (NSCG)

What are the foundations of the American political system? What values and principles are basic to American constitutional democracy?

Fundamental values and principles. Students should be able to explain the meaning and importance of the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy. To achieve this standard, students should be able to

Explain the meaning and importance of the following fundamental principles of American constitutional democracy

Constitutional government which includes the rule of law; representative institutions; shared powers; checks and balances; individual rights; separation of church and state; federalism; civilian control of the military

National Center for History in Schools (NCHS)

Historical Thinking Standards

Historical Comprehension

Reconstruct the literal meaning of a historical passage.

United States History Content Standards

Era 1: Three Worlds Meet (Beginnings to 1620)

Comparative characteristics of societies in the Americas, Western Europe, and Western Africa that increasingly interacted after 1450.

The student understands the patterns of change in indigenous societies in the Americas up to the Columbian voyages.