Passover

Colorful stained-glass windows depicting the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Sherborne Abbey in Dorset, England.

Why Easter is called Easter, and other little-known facts about the holiday

Religion

The naming of the celebration seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre. And the holiday used to be marked by heavy drinking and merrymaking.

Hazel Bethel is a Manischewitz wine devotee. She's originally from Trinidad and was introduced to the wine by friends who worked in Jewish homes in New York.

Is that Manischewitz? The Kosher wine is a hit in some Caribbean communities.

Food
Mizgin, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, and her family are living with Rachel Miller's family for the year.

For this Syrian Yazidi family and their Jewish hosts, Passover is a refugee story

Conflict
Fania Lewando, a restaurant owner in Poland before World War II, wrote a Yiddish cookbook that reveals a vibrant Jewish vegetarian tradition.

Jewish vegetarians say you don’t have to make brisket for Passover — and they’ve got the recipes to prove it

Food
Just in time for Passover, Ben and Jerry's is offering vanilla ice cream with a swirl of charoset straight from the seder table.

Forget Cherry Garcia. How about Ben and Jerry’s Passover ice cream?

Food
A French tourist eats a kosher McDonalds hamburger with a potato-starch bun in downtown Jerusalem.

Israeli restaurants get creative on Passover with imitation bread, pizza, and bagels

Lifestyle & Belief

Secular Israelis who crave bread during the Passover holiday are traveling abroad in droves these days. They’re replaced in Israel by Jews from around the world who fly in to soak in the Passover atmosphere. In recent years, Israeli restaurants have been catering to Passover-observant Jews by preparing imitation bread products for their customers. Secular Israelis who crave bread during the Passover holiday are traveling abroad in droves these days. They’re replaced in Israel by Jews from around the world who fly in to soak in the Passover atmosphere. In recent years, Israeli restaurants have been catering to Passover-observant Jews by preparing imitation bread products for their customers.

When Jews lived in the Soviet Union, they had to hide their matzah in suitcases

Lifestyle & Belief

In the years after World War II, it became illegal to make Passover matzah in Soviet synagogues. So local Jews instead started baking matzah at home, in secret.

When Jews lived in the Soviet Union, they had to hide their matzah in suitcases

Lifestyle & Belief

In the years after World War II, it became illegal to make Passover matzah in Soviet synagogues. So local Jews instead started baking matzah at home, in secret.

Men lined up in a human assembly line, preparing matzah at the Belz synagogue in Jerusalem.

A pop-up matzah factory in Jerusalem churns out Passover matzahs the old fashioned way

Lifestyle & Belief

Many of these makeshift matzah factories operate without licenses and proper supervision by state health officials. Some factory workers have lost fingers and crushed hands in the machinery. One factory I stumbled upon kicked me out, threatening to break my camera. Many of these makeshift matzah factories operate without licenses and proper supervision by state health officials. Some factory workers have lost fingers and crushed hands in the machinery. One factory I stumbled upon kicked me out, threatening to break my camera.

Merima Ključo

This Bosnian War survivor has a musical interpretation of the Sarajevo Haggadah

Lifestyle & Belief

The Sarajevo Haggadah was written in the 14th century as an illustrated guide to the Passover seder. Bosnian-born composer and concert accordionist Merima Kljuco was inspired to turn the book, and its story, into a piece of music.