Passover
This year, Passover begins at sundown on Friday, April 19, 2019
and ends at sundown on Friday, April 26, 2019
(or at sundown on Saturday, April 27 for those who observe eight days).
Click here for details about celebrating Passover with Hakafa this year.
Click here for a copy and recording of the Four Questions.
Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning "order") and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). On the eve of the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, we read from a book called the hagaddah, meaning "telling," which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings and songs for the Pesach seder.
At Hakafa, we have a second-night congregational seder in addition to a seder with the residents of Robineau House. Our members have the opportunity to order Passover care packages for their undergrads that members of our community prepare and send. We also volunteer with the greater Chicago Jewish community by packing and delivering Kosher-for-Passover food to Jewish families in need through Maot Chitim.
