How to Greet Jewish Friends at Passover

Passover is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the freeing of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Passover is an eight-day celebration that takes place in early spring. Because it's part of the Hebrew calendar, the dates of Passover vary from year to year. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is an integral part of the Passover celebration, and many Jews forgo any products made with yeast during the Passover celebration. The highlight of Passover is a feast called Seder, which usually takes place on one of the first two nights of Passover. There are several different ways to greet Jewish friends at Passover.

Instructions

1. Say, "Happy Passover." Simply state it just as you would "Happy Halloween" or "Happy Easter."

2. Greet your friends with "Happy Pesach." "Pesach" is the Hebrew term for "Passover."

3. Say, "Good yontif" or "Happy yontif." "Yontif" is the Hebrew word for "holiday," and so you can wish Jewish friends a "good yontif" for any Jewish holiday celebration.

4. Greet your friends with "Happy holiday." It's a perfectly acceptable way to greet someone celebrating Passover and is good to use if your mind goes blank.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're invited to Seder, avoid taking food for your hosts. Many Jews observe dietary restrictions during Seder. Flowers or some other non-edible tribute might be a better gift than food.

References

• Jews For Jesus: A Quick Guide to the Jewish Holidays