When is Passover celebrated in Michigan? What to know about the Jewish feast in 2025

Lansing State Journal

Passover, an eight-day Jewish festival, begins on April 12 and ends April 20.
The holiday commemorates the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt.
During Passover, Jewish people avoid leavened bread and participate in a special meal called a seder.
Michigan residents can find various Passover events and celebrations throughout the state.

The Jewish feast of Passover, when families share the stories of their ancestors and eat traditional foods, such as matzah and maror, is just weeks away.

Passover, also known as Pesach, dates back to at least the 5^th century B.C., and today is observed by millions of people worldwide.

Like Easter, Passover dates vary from year to year, but the commemorate different events.

Here's what to know about the feast in Michigan.

When is Passover in 2025?

Passover is celebrated for eight days. This year, it is April 12-20, according Chabad.org, the Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center.

The seder, or Passover meal, will occur after nightfall on April 12.

What is Passover?

Passover celebrates the emancipation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, as described in the Bible's book of Exodus. During Passover, chametz, or leaven, in strictly avoided.

Where can I take part in Passover events?

Several public Passover events are coming up in Michigan:

Through April 4: Passover 2 Go menu, order Passover foods, including entrees and desserts
March 26: Wine and Craft Seder Plate Workshop
April 3: Women’s Seder
April 10: Baking for the Jewish Soul Passover Edition
April 12: Believers' Gathering Passover Seder Service
April 13: Second Night Seder
April 18: Tot Shabbat (interactive music experience)

What is leaven?

Leaven is simply what makes things such as bread rise. Typically it is yeast.

Why is leaven prohibited during Passover?

"Just before the nation of Israel left Egypt, (God) commanded them to sacrifice the paschal lamb and then eat it with unleavened matzah and bitter herbs," according to Chabad.org. "(God) then told them that they should replicate this feast every year on the anniversary of the Exodus: 'It shall be for you a remembrance . . . seven days you shall eat matzah, and on the first day you should remove all se’or (sourdough, a leavening agent) from your homes. Anyone who eats chametz (leaven) from the first day to the seventh day shall be cut off from Israel.'"

What is a seder?

The seder, a festive holiday meal, actually means "order." It is called this because the meal is done in a certain order which takes us from slavery to freedom, according to reformjudaism.com. The Haggadah — which means "the telling" — is the book used at the Passover seder. The Haggadah explains the foods on the seder plate, recounts the highlights of the Exodus, and includes songs, prayers, questions, and vignettes.

A Passover Seder plate includes lamb, parsley, radishes, horseradish sauce, eggs and chopped apples, also known as Kharosett. Each food item represents a particular aspect of the Jewish holiday.

What’s part of the seder meal?

four cups of wine
vegetables dipped in saltwater
flat, dry cracker-like bread called matzah
bitter herbs, often horseradish (without additives) and romaine lettuce, dipped into charoset (a paste of nuts, apples, pears and wine)
a meal also may include foods like chicken soup and gefilte fish

How many people of the Jewish faith live in Michigan

Michigan's Jewish population in 2024 was 129,000.

According to Jewish Virtual Library, the U.S.'s Jewish population in 2024 was 7.69 million people.

When is Easter in 2025?

This year, Easter falls on April 20.

Why is Easter so late this year?

The Old Farmer's Almanac explains that Easter Sunday changes dates each year because it depends on the lunar cycles of the Jewish calendar. While Easter Sunday can happen anywhere between March 22 and April 25, the holiday always falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, meaning a full moon that happens on or after the spring equinox.

This year, the spring equinox is March 20, and the first full moon following it is on April 12, making Easter April 20.

What's the difference between Easter and Passover?

Although Passover and Easter are celebrated at similar times of the year, the holidays commemorate different events. Easter, according to Christianity.com, Easter honors the resurrection of Jesus three days after the crucifixion.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.