Q&A for How to Celebrate Passover

The first night of Pesach (Passover), when the Seder happens, is on 14 Nissan. This will next occur on Friday 19, April 2019. The first day, when it is traditional to attend Shul is on 15 Nissan - Saturday 20 April 2019.

You could use grape juice or nonalcoholic 'wine'.

You can buy them at Jewish religious goods stores, Jewish websites, and possibly even your grocery store.

For Passover, they are lit on the 6th day of Passover. On Sukkot, they are lit the 7th day of Sukkot (Hoshana Raba). For Shavuot, they are lit the day before Shavuot.

Passover is not a festival during which it is customary to give gifts. However, feel free to, and I'm sure that if you do, the recipients will be delighted. However, ensure that you do not accidentally give a gift containing 'chametz'. This is a term meaning all leavened bread, cakes, certain biscuits, pastries, other baked goods, and, for Ashkenazim, 'kitniot' (pulses and rice). The best way to check that your gift contains no chametz is to look for a 'Kosher for Passover' symbol on the back. Passover lasts for 8 days, but I don't imagine that it much matters when you give your gift. Naturally, if the gift is because they are hosting you for a meal, give it to them at the meal.

No. Passover is a holiday and 'unleavened' is a description of bread made with non-rising dough.

Yes. It is still respectful if you convert.

You should get rid of your alcohol that isn't kosher for Passover, like beer, spirits, or other grain alcohol (or, more conservatively, anything not specifically marked as pesadich). Special kosher-for-Passover wine is what's usually drunk at dinner. Since wine is made from grapes and not grain, it's fine to drink.

Yes; the first day is the most important day, due to it being one of the seders.

"Church" refers to Christian groups. Jews meet at synagogues. There is a lot to learn about Judaism, starting on this website, or by searching the internet. Becoming Jewish is another matter -- it takes serious dedication and, usually, a few years of learning. It excludes membership in any other religion.

They could, but these days it's no longer considered applicable to Christians.

No, you don't have to celebrate Passover if you don't want to.

If you are a Jewish person you can go the Chabad House in Bangkok (unfortunately, this is restricted to Jews due to security concerns). If not, try finding a synagogue in Bangkok to see if they have any activities they would let you join in on.

Great question! It depends how religious you are. As Pesach is a Chag (festival), more traditional, Orthodox Jews are not allowed to use electricity, so no, but if you are more egalitarian (e.g. reform, Masorti, liberal) that is fine. This could become quite a tradition!

In Leviticus Chapter 23:1-8, G-D commands a holiday starting in the evening of the 14th of the 1st month, commencing a 7 day period of not eating leaven bread. The last of those 7 days is also a holiday. In ancient times, the festivals were dependent on the Jewish high court declaring that the month had begun (on the strength of witnesses). It would take time for messengers from the court in Jerusalem to get to the Jews in the diaspora. To avoid possibly working on the holiday, therefore, a second day of holiday (both at the beginning and end) were instituted. Even though the calendar was later standardized, the institution of these holidays was kept.

No. That custom is called Yahrzeit, and is observed on the anniversary of the loved one's death.

Yes, you can say "Happy Passover". It is acceptable. You can also say "Chag Sameach".

Some have the custom of having a moschiach seudah (a Messiah meal) as tradition holds that this is a particularly potent time for the redemption of the world. Some of those who do not eat "gebrochts" (i.e. matzah together with anything wet) throughout Passover make a special effort to do so at this time.

The middle days of Passover are called Chol Hamoed. While work is permitted, it is discouraged unless a serious loss is involved. A partial Hallel and Mussaf are added to the daily services. Some do not put on Tefillin. The essence of the days is to rejoice and be involved in mitzvot. The last two days are holidays and have all the restrictions of Jewish holidays (e.g. like Shabbat except you can cook and carry out in the public domain).

At least 4 (first 2 and last 2), but unless there is a serious loss involved, ideally all. This is because of the concept of Chol Hamoed, Also note that Shabbat may fall during the middle 4 days, making the minimum 5 in some years.

No. The holidays are referred to in the traditional liturgy as a distinct gift from G-d to the Jewish people which non-Jews are in fact prohibited from observing according to traditional halacha.

According to traditional halacha, no. No electronics may be used during a holiday. The explanation for this I believe has to do with completing a circuit and the prohibition of building on the holiday.

No. Passover is one of the three pilgrimage festivals so in fact traditionally there was quite a lot of people who would be gathered. In ancient times, people would be registered for a Passover offering and would have to eat all the kosher parts of the offering at the Seder so in practice this required a large group.however there is no minimum. The Haggadah for Passover does assume there will be someone (a child) to ask questions and someone to answer, but if need me you can certainly do it alone.

It is fine to simply say "Happy Passover" you can also say "Happy Pesach", which means the same thing. "Chag sameach" is another option which means "happy holidays".

As the story goes, the Israelites used lamb's blood to mark their doors and recognise them as Israelites, thus making them exempt from the killing if their first born sons. It is said that the angel of death passed over their doors.