Russian Jews celebrate Passover

Jews of Russia are starting to celebrate eight-day holiday Pesach (Passover).

It is dedicated to the most important event in Biblical history, which is considered to be the beginning of the Jewish history – the Exodus from Egypt and the liberation of the people from 400 years of slavery. The entire system of Judaism is based on the memory of the Exodus and the subsequent events related to the acquisition of the Promised Land and the establishment their own independent state.

During Biblical times, the celebration of the Passover was followed by a pilgrimage to the Temple, sacrifices and the feast with a lamb dish. It is believed that the Passover united two ancient festivals of pastoralists and farmers. In Biblical times it was associated with the liberation from the Egyptian slavery.

The tradition ties the name of the Passover holiday with the fact that God "passed" (in Hebrew "pasach") by the houses of the Jews when he punished the Egyptians for the Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Jewish people go. The Torah calls it "The Feast of Unleavened Bread", because at Passover you are supposed to eat unleavened bread (matzah), and it strictly prohibited even to have at home leavened products (chametz).

"We must have complete trust in the Creator, follow his will. When Jews escaped from Egypt, they did it immediately, without second thought, without any fears and doubts," president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia Alexander Boroda said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian Jews on this holiday, noting its significance in the history of Jewish people. His congratulatory telegram was published today on the Kremlin's website.

"This ancient holiday reminds us about the most important milestone in the history of Jewish people - escaping from slavery, gaining freedom and dignity," Putin wrote, adding that Russian Jews respect traditions of their ancestors, their customs, and teach these traditions of friendship, trust and mutual understanding to young people.