Learn about Passover in the US
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| Hi everyone, I'm Alisha. |
| Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays. The holiday is widely celebrated in the United States in areas where there is a large Jewish population. In areas where the Jewish population is not so large, Passover is generally not celebrated. It's not an official holiday anywhere in the United States. |
| A particular type of bread is associated with Passover. Do you know which type of bread this is and why it's associated with the holiday? |
| We’ll show you the answer at the end of this video. |
| The Passover celebration goes on for up to eight days. It commemorates the flight of the Israelites from Egypt and one of the ten plagues that the God of the Israelites released upon the pharaoh. According to the tradition, the Israelites were commanded to paint their door jams with the blood of a spring lamb so that they would not be subjected to the death of their firstborn as the Egyptians were. This is where the term "pass over" comes from. |
| In areas where there is a large Jewish population, many people of other faiths spend time with their Jewish friends during this holiday and learn a bit about the Jewish culture and traditions. Passover is celebrated by secular Jews, though the religious connotations are obviously much less prevalent in these celebrations. Both feasting and fasting are part of this celebration. |
| Community Passover events are scarcely heard of in the United States. This is largely a family holiday with a significant focus on the Jewish religion itself. There are many different rituals related to eating during this time of year and the retelling of the stories behind the celebration of Passover. |
| While it may not be an official holiday, most Americans are well aware of Passover and people of the Jewish faith are often given time off of work so that they can observe the holiday, if need be. |
| And now here's the answer to the quiz. |
| Do you know which type of bread is associated with Passover? |
| Unleavened bread is associated with the Passover holiday. According to the story in Exodus, the Israelites did not have time to wait for the bread to rise before they fled Egypt. Because of that, they ended up traveling with unleavened bread, and it would evolve into a cultural symbol within the Jewish community, as well as an important staple of many people worldwide. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? |
| Are there any holidays with religious significance in your country? |
| Please leave a comment at EnglishClass101.com |
| Until next time! |
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