How to Prepare for Passover

Getting ready for Passover can be time-consuming and quite complicated for observant Jews. This page provides a guide to how to prepare for the holiday.

Getting ready for Passover can be time-consuming and quite complicated for observant Jews. This page provides a guide to how to prepare for the holiday.
Video: How To Prepare for Passover Seder

This how to video from HowCast goes through the step-by-step process for preparing for Passover seder table. All the items you'll need for the Passover seder are explained including what ingredient's and foods you'll need. The symbolism behind all of the foods are explained in this video and alternatives are also recommended if you don't have a particular item available.

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Introduction
- For observant Jews, preparing for Passover can be quite time-consuming. It includes getting ready for the Passover Seder, buying specific food and drinks that are kosher for Passover and getting rid of food not allowed during the holiday.
Step 1: Purchasing Kosher for Passover Food
- The first thing to do when preparing for Passover is to purchase kosher for Passover foods.
1. Most items are marked with P or kosher for Passover.
2. Some products, such as fresh fruit and fish, can be used without the symbols.
3. Chametz (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives which has leavened or fermented), is prohibited.
4. Many Jews also don't eat kitniyot (legumes).
Step 2: Getting Rid of Forbidden Food
1. There are several ways to get rid of chametz and legumes.
2. Donate the food.
3. A Rabbi can organize a symbolic sale of the items to someone who is not Jewish; the items are then purchased back after Passover.
4. The items can be sold in a way that allows them to stay in an isolated part of the home.
5. Trash old or almost finished food.
Step 3: Passover Cleaning
- Observant Jews clean their house from all chametz (and kitniyot, for many Jews) before Passover. The orthodox cleaning process is as follows:
1. Search all areas of the home for traces of forbidden food.
2. Clean all areas where food could have entered.
3. Get rid of any traces of forbidden food.
4. Put away all kitchen and dinnerware used during the rest of the year and use special kosher-for Passover items.
5. Once an area is clean for Passover, no non-Passover food can be brought there.
Step 4: Prepare for the Seder
1. Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel hold two Seders on the first two nights of Passover, while Reform Jews and Jews in Israel hold one Seder. There are regional differences to the foods served at the Seder, but a traditional Seder includes:
2. Matzo
3. Four glasses of wine
4. Bitter herbs
5. Eggs
6. A root vegetable
7. Greens (karpas)
8. Charoset, a mixture of apple, nuts and wine
9. Some type of meat, often a lamb shank bone
10. Salty water to dip karpas in
Step 5: Final Preparations

Some people conduct a traditional search for chametz before the start of Passover. The last time to eat chametz is in the morning before the first day of Passover in the Jewish calendar. The remaining chametz is then traditionally burned and the final preparations for the Seder can begin.
Conclusion
Preparing for Passover can be quite time consuming and its best to start the preparations for in advance, so that you can fully enjoy and appreciate the holiday.