Passover 2025 in the Lower Hudson Valley: Where to find local and online services
Many Lower Hudson Valley Jewish congregations hosted community Seders to celebrate the first two nights of Passover.
Learn more about the holiday, and see where you can find daily services for Passover online or at location near you.
Passover is one of the most significant and widely celebrated holidays in Judaism.
Jews gather at Seders to tell the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, led by Moses. According to the Book of Exodus in the Torah, God unleashed 10 plagues upon the Egyptians, each one more terrible than the last, before the Jews were released.
The holiday is called Passover in English translation because God is said to have instructed Jewish families to sacrifice a lamb and use its blood to mark above their doors, so that the 10th plague of death to the firstborn male would "pass over" them.
Jewish families observe Passover by cleaning their homes and removing chametz, which includes leavened bread and other fermented products. The ritual recalls the Israelites' rapid escape, when they could not wait for bread to rise.
The Seder is a ritual meal held on the first two nights of the holiday. Jewish families gather around a table with specially prepared food and read the Haggadah, a text that guides the Seder.
The meal is served on a special plate with sections for foods that signify different parts of the Exodus story. Among them are bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery, and an apple-nut mixture called charoset, which recalls mortar used by Hebrew slaves.
From 2018 Rockland Jewish women explain the Hebrew calendar, Shabbat and the holidays
Passover traditionally begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which falls between late March and early April. The holiday lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days in all other parts of the Jewish diaspora.
The first two days and the last two days of the week are major celebration days.
During the intermediate days of the holiday, many Jews try to avoid doing manual labor or other types of work. Instead, families are encouraged to participate in outings, picnic lunches and other family gatherings.
Passover ends on the evening of April 20, which coincides with the Christian holiday of Easter.
According to Chabad.org, the last day of Passover commemorates the parting of the Red Sea and the Israelites' escape from Egypt.
Several congregations and Chabads across Westchester and Rockland have a ton of online services and resources available for Passover week. See our list below:
The Congregation Sons of Israel live stream most services on their website. Online, you can also check out a special Passover playlist. Passover services will be held April 14 and 20.
When: 9:30 a.m. April 14 and April 20. Yizkor held on April 20 to mark eighth day of Passover.
Where: Congregation Sons of Israel Briarcliff Manor, 1666 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor.
More info: csibriarcliff.org
The Chabad of Yorktown has lots of online resources available online for prayers, history, customs and more for each day of Passover. You can read that online here. Check out the Chabad of Yorktown's Passover site here.
More info: chabadyorktown.com
Congregation Shir Shalom is a conservative, egalitarian synagogue serving Rockland County. Check them out on their website and keep up with the latest on their Facebook page.
More info: shirshalomrockland.org
The Chabad of the Rivertowns is hosting daily services for Passover, including morning services and Yizkor on the eighth day of the holiday.
Where: Chabad of the Rivertowns, 303 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry.
More info: chabadrt.org
The Chabad of Yonkers is also hosting daily services for Passover. To see service times and info, go to jewishyonkers.com/templates/events.htm.
Where: Chabad of Yonkers, 600 N. Broadway, Yonkers.
More info: jewishyonkers.com.
The Chabad of Bronxville is hosting services for Passover throughout the week. To learn more and see the schedule, go to bit.ly/4jcm9aT.
Where: Chabad Jewish Center, 453 White Plains Road, Eastchester.
More info: chabadjewishcenter.com
The Chabad of White Plains has online resources, prayers and more for Passover.
Where: The Hebrew Institute of White Plains, 20 Greenridge Ave., White Plains.
More info: chabadwhiteplains.com
The Chabad Lubavitch of Larchmont and Mamaroneck has daily services for Passover. See a schedule and more info online.
Where: Chabad Lubavitch of Larchmont and Mamaroneck, 101 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck.
More info: chabad101.com
The Chabad of Suffern is hosting Passover services Monday, April 14 and Yizkor services Sunday, April 20. See a full schedule online at bit.ly/3G73kXX.
When: 10 a.m. April 14 and 11 a.m., April 20 Yizkor services.
Where: Chabad Jewish Center of Suffern, 350 Haverstraw Road, Montebello.
More info: jewishsuffern.com
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Passover 2025 in Lower Hudson Valley: Find online, community services
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