While many students munched on chocolate eggs and jelly beans during Spring Break, the school’s Jewish community of West Shore celebrated the eight days of Passover, which began on March 30 and ended Saturday.

Passover is a major Jewish spring festival that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites, and their freedom under the leadership of Moses more than 3,000 years ago. Passover is the seven or eight days from the 15th day of Nisan, the seventh month on the Jewish calendar. Although it differs among the many sects of Judaism on how Passover is celebrated, usually participants hold a special seder or ritual dinner on the first two night of Passover. The seder is composed of a plate consisting of a lamb bone, a roasted egg, bitter herbs and charoset, which is a paste of chopped apples, walnuts and wine.

During Passover, adherents surround themselves with family and friends, and recite the story of the liberation of the Israelites or the Haggadah. On the intermediate days of Passover, many follow the rules of a Passover diet, which is a Kosher diet with only unleavened bread. Working is permitted only during the intermediate days of Passover.

“During Passover all my siblings came home and my brother came home, and we had the seder with my aunt and uncle,” sophomore Marlee Krause said. “On the second night, we went to my aunt and uncle’s house.” 

Brisket also is a common delectable that is eaten during Passover.

“My grandmother’s brisket is amazing. You need to try it,” seventh-grader Shane W. said.

By Alyssa Dumbra