Passover (April 22 to April 30)

Passover is a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt according to the Bible. Passover spans over eight days, beginning at sunset on the first day and ending at nightfall of the last. The first two and last two days are full-fledged celebrations with feasts, candles, quality time with family, and breaks from work. The middle four days are known as Chol HaMoed, intermediate days where most forms of work are permitted.

According to the Book of Exodus, God commanded Moses to demand that Pharaoh of Egypt release the Israelites from their decades of slavery. Moses warned that if Pharaoh did not fulfill God's demand, Egypt would suffer ten devastating plagues. Despite Moses's petition, Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites. Upon the day of the tenth plague, death of the firstborn, God commanded Moses to tell the Israelites to mark a lamb's blood above their doors to ensure that the Angel of Death would pass over them-the origin of the holiday's name. Ultimately, after suffering the death of his firstborn, Pharaoh ordered the Israelites to leave, take whatever they wanted, and asked for Moses to bless him in the name of God.

In addition to the celebrations, Passover is commemorated by not eating and relinquishing chametz. Chametz are foods with leavening agents, meaning foods that contain wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives. Instead, many Jews will eat matzah, a flat, unleavened bread like the unleavened bread that the Israelites ate when they left Egypt. Through observation of Passover, Jews do not only celebrate freedom from slavery and survival of the Ten Plagues but also are said to build a closer spiritual connection with God.