Why is this night different from all other nights?

This question will be the first one asked in each Jewish home tonight at the start of the Passover Seder. At the Seder meal, Jews around the world retell the story of our Exodus from bondage in Egypt.

From Judaism 101:

Passover or Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Pesach observances are instituted in Chs. 12-15.

Probably the most significant observance related to Pesach involves the removal of chametz (leaven; sounds like "hum it's" with that Scottish "ch") from our homes. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls.

We may not eat chametz during Pesach; we may not even own it or derive benefit from it. We may not even feed it to our pets or cattle. All chametz, including utensils used to cook chametz, must either be disposed of or sold to a non-Jew (they can be repurchased after the holiday). Pets' diets must be changed for the holiday, or the pets must be sold to a non-Jew (like the food and utensils, the pets can be repurchased after the holiday ends).

The process of cleaning the home of all chametz in preparation for Pesach is an enormous task. To do it right, you must prepare for several weeks and spend several days scrubbing everything down, going over the edges of your stove and fridge with a toothpick and a Q-Tip, covering all surfaces that come in contact with food with foil or shelf-liner, etc., etc., etc. After the cleaning is completed, the morning before the seder, a formal search of the house for chametz is undertaken, and any remaining chametz is burned.

Needless to say, Every Jewish family goes a bit crazy trying to clean their homes. I like to call it: Spring Cleaning on Steroids!

Now imagine the days of Passover when all you can eat is a dry cracker instead of bread. And imagine Passover occuring weeks before or after Easter, and you still have to attend school. I still have memories of going to school during those days, opening my lunchbox, and pulling out a piece of matzah. Never mind that my mother also sent along Tupperware containers (G-d help you if you lost them) filled with Gefilte Fish, fruit, a hard boiled egg, and Cream Cheese (to put on the matzah). I was stuck with this dry cracker which after a few days I didn't want to see ever again. And worse of all, my non-Jewish friends were eating real sandwiches. Made with real bread. They had Twinkies, and Yo-Yo's. Cupcakes and Devil Dogs. All the foods that were forbidden to me. I knew what Adam must have felt like in the Garden of Eden when G-d Commanded him not to eat of a certain tree. I tried to do a swap, like kids always try to do with their lunches. Just my luck, no takers. So I sat and quietly ate lunch while envying my friends.

Did I grow spiritually? Perhaps a bit. I did get a greater understanding of how different I was.

Today with the liberal attitude in our schools could this happen again? No. For the Jewish children would been segregated to a different part of the lunch room, where they wouldn't be subjected to the sight of leavened bread. Now that's a pity. For we learn valuable lessons when confronted with problems and awkward situations.

This week is the holy week for both Jews and Christians. It is the week of Passover for Jews, and Holy Week (culminating in Easter) for Christians. It is a time of remembering what the Lord has done for us. For releasing us from the bondage of Egypt, into the freedom of Israel.

Passover is not about matzah, it is about freedom both physical and spiritual.

Oh yes, I have finally made peace with matzah. It now takes me 6 days before I start looking at it in horror.