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Judaism

When Is Passover 2022? Everything You Need to Know About the Spring Celebration

As tulips begin to bloom and heavy winter wear is placed back onto the top shelves of closets, a celebration nearly as old as the seasons themselves approaches. The spring holiday of Passover, or Pesach, is one of the most significant festivals in Judaism.

The eight-day Jewish observance commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt nearly 3,000 years ago. During Passover, those who practice partake in centuries-old traditions, including avoiding leaven, attending a home ritual around the dinner table known as Seder, and retelling the story of the Exodus.

Even if you’re not new to the Jewish faith, because Passover falls on a different date every year, it’s good to have a reminder of when it will take place. Here’s what you need to know about important dates for Passover 2022, plus a little background on the holiday.

When is Passover in 2022?

This year, Passover begins at sundown on April 15 and ends at sundown on April 23. It happens during Nissan (or Nisan)—the Hebrew month mandated by the Torah to occur in spring.

Like Easter, Passover is determined by the Jewish calendar, which is lunar. Because the Jewish calendar isn’t the same length as the solar year on the Gregorian calendar (the calendar most widely used today), Passover and other Jewish holidays shift every year. But, one thing does remain consistent—Passover always falls on a full moon in the spring. It follows a day in spring known as the vernal equinox, when night and day are the same lengths.

  • Note that the Jewish calendar date begins at sundown of the night beforehand and concludes at nightfall. All holiday observances start at sundown on the secular dates listed, meaning the following day is the first full day of the holiday.

What dates are you allowed to work during Passover?

There are several key dates during Passover earmarked as no-work-allowed days: the first two days of Passover when the Seder feast is held—from sundown April 15 until nightfall April 17 this year—and the final days before sunset April 21, ending after nightfall April 23.

Between these dates is the four-day intermediate period known as Chol Hamoed, where work is allowed with some restrictions.

How long does Passover last?

Beginning on the evening preceding 15 Nissan (April 15), Passover lasts for eight days in the Diaspora (the population of Jews living outside Israel) and 7 days in Israel.

Why do the two areas differ? It’s a mix of how the Hebrew calendar determines dates and tradition. The Torah, the overall body of Jewish religious teachings containing the Five Books of Moses, specifies that Passover lasts seven days. However, according to chabad.org, in ancient times, the beginning of a new month was determined by The Sanhedrin’s (ancient Jewish court system) official declaration of the new moon.

Without modern technology, you can imagine getting the word to anyone outside of Israel took a lot longer than sending a text. To prepare for this margin of error of not knowing exactly when a month would start and therefore when to start observing holidays, these communities practiced two days of each Jewish holiday. Even though the calendar became mathematically fixed, today the Jewish community outside of Israel continues to celebrate Passover for the extra day out of tradition.

How can I wish someone well on this holiday?

Whether you’re celebrating Passover or know someone who is, it’s perfectly acceptable to wish them a “happy Passover.” Other greetings might include wishing an individual or family a “kosher and joyous Passover,” “happy Pesach,” or “Chag Sameach” (Happy Festival).

Source: Irene Richardson – Country Living