President Maia Sandu transmitted sincere wishes of health and prosperity to the Jewish community in the Republic of Moldova and to all the Jews on the occasion of Pesach (Passover), which is one of the major Jewish holidays, IPN reports.
“Hag Pesah Sameah!” President Sandu posted on Facebook, which means “Happy Passover”.
The holiday celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month of Aviv, or spring. The word Pesach or Passover can also refer to the Korban Pesach, the paschal lamb that was offered when the Temple in Jerusalem stood; to the Passover Seder, the ritual meal on Passover night; or to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
One of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals, Passover is traditionally celebrated in the Land of Israel for seven days and for eight days among many Jews in the Diaspora. In the bible, the seven-day holiday is known as Chag HaMatzot, the feast of unleavened bread (matzah).
Matzah is unleavened bread made from just flour and water and baked before it has a chance to rise. It is eaten on Passover eve, at the center of the Seder celebration.
