Jewish Passover starts at sunset on Friday 19 April

On this evening, many Jewish families will gather together for a traditional ‘Seder’ meal to celebrate the beginning of Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew.

During Passover, Jewish people remember how Moses freed the Israelites who the Torah says were enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaohs.

According to the Book of Exodus, Moses warned the Pharaoh that if he failed to free the Israelites, Egypt would be hit by a host of terrible plagues including blood, frogs, darkness, and the death of every first-born male in Egypt.

Eventually the Pharaoh gave in and told Moses and the Israelites to leave Egypt. This exodus is an important thread in many stories and prayers.