Today the Jews all over the world celebrate the ancient holiday of 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).
This year the Passover holiday begins at the sundown on April 22.
Today President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Russian Jews on this big holiday. "Passover is the oldest and most respected celebration by followers of Judaism, which goes back to such an important event in Biblical history as the deliverance of the Jewish people from the centuries of slavery,’’ Tass quotes the president with reference to the Kremlin press service.
According to Vladimir Putin, it is important that the Russian Jews respect the traditions and customs and carefully pass them on from generation to generation. "Today, the life of the Jewish community of our country is filled with big and positive developments: new religious, educational, cultural centers are being opened, the international contacts are being expanded. The Jewish organizations are paying much attention to preserving peace and harmony in our society, promoting mutual understanding among the people of different nationalities and religions,’’ President Putin said.
