The weeklong holiday of Passover marks the liberation of the ancient Hebrews from the slavery of the Egyptians. Thus, the Passover holiday is one of the most significant festivals celebrated by the Jewish community throughout the world. It begins on the 15th of the Nisan month of the Hebrew calendar across seven or eight days. Though small in number, the Jews residing in Poland celebrate Passover with complete faith and belief. The festival is celebrated across eight days here. Glance through the following lines to know more about Polish traditions and rituals followed for celebrating the Pesach festival.
Passover Celebrations In Poland
The Passover services are primarily held in Polish with the Hebrew text translated into English and polish for the comfort of all people attending the Seder service. Different rabbis from the United States and Israel travel all the way to Warsaw to conduct the services. Delicacies like kugels, kreplach, tsimmes, gefilte fish, chicken soup with kneydlakhs, brisket, macaroons and compotes are some of the numerous polish dishes that are prepared on Passover. The Hasidic Jews residing in Gora Kalwaria have a unique way of observing the Passover holiday. The journey of the Jews crossing the Red Sea is reenacted every year by all the families on Passover in their living rooms.
The seventh day of Passover is commemorated with an unusual ritual. They pour water on the floor of their homes and while crossing it, put on their coats and speak put the names of the towns, in the region that they live, that they would be passing by in the coming year. The Hasidic Jews from all across Europe, Israel and North America gather in Lezajsk, a small town in southeastern Poland to mark the Passover celebrations. They visit the tomb of Rabbi Elimelech, 18th century spiritual leader, and conduct an event comprising of prayers and services to mark his death.
