Why Are There 8 Days Of Passover?
There are actually 7 days of Passover, not 8. However, the holiday is often referred to as "Passover" or "Pesach" in Hebrew, which can be confusing because the word "Pesach" also refers to the sacrificial lamb that was eaten during the holiday in ancient times.
The reason for the 7 days of Passover is rooted in the biblical story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. According to the book of Exodus, God commanded the Israelites to observe the holiday of Passover as a commemoration of their liberation from slavery in Egypt. The holiday begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan and lasts for 7 days.
The first day of Passover is a holy day known as "Yom Tov" (literally, "good day") and is marked by special prayers and a festive meal. The remaining six days are known as "Chol Hamoed" (literally, "the secular days of the festival") and are considered intermediate days that are neither fully holy nor fully ordinary.
During Chol Hamoed, many people take time off from work and school to spend time with family and friends, go on outings, and participate in other leisure activities.
In addition to the 7 days of Passover, there is also an additional holiday known as "Shvi'i shel Pesach" (the 7th day of Passover), which is observed only in Israel. This holiday commemorates the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea and their final liberation from Egypt.