Passover Begins Tonight, Jewish Holiday Celebrates Freedom

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The oldest Jewish holiday is set to begin Monday night at sundown.

Passover is the week long Jewish holiday celebrating the Egyptians freeing the Jews. The Book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible tells the story of Moses demanding the Pharaoh to let his people go.

The bible says it took 10 plagues, including the slaying of the first born child, before the Pharaoh would release the Jewish slaves. Rabbi Larry Schlesigner says freedom is the dominant theme during this holiday.

“What we really see is the coalescence of the Jewish people from slavery into a free people that continues to exist down to this very day,” Schlesinger of the Temple Beth Israel said.

The Jewish people celebrate the holiday, with a special dinner called a seder. There’s a variety of food on the menu, including horseradish, salt water, and matza. Rabbi Scheslinger says the food reminds them of the story of their freedom.