Hey everyone, have you ever wondered why the Jewish holiday of Passover, which celebrates freedom, lasts for eight days?
Well, the core of Passover commemorates the story of the Exodus, when the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, a truly monumental event!
Biblically, the Torah actually commands us to celebrate Passover for seven days, so where does that extra day come from?
Back in ancient times, before a fixed calendar, the start of each Jewish month, and thus holidays, was determined by observing the new moon, which was officially declared in Jerusalem.
For communities living far from Jerusalem, it was difficult to know the exact day the new month began, leading to uncertainty about when the seven-day holiday truly started.
To ensure they wouldn’t accidentally miss a day of the holiday, these communities added an extra day, making it eight days long, a practice still observed by most Jewish people outside of Israel today!
So, while it’s seven days in Israel, the eight days of Passover in the Diaspora is a beautiful tradition, reflecting a deep commitment to ensuring every Jew could properly celebrate their freedom.