Passover 2028: Seder Date, Haggadah & Removing Chametz
Festival guide · 2028
Passover (פֶּסַח, Pesach) commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt as described in the Book of Exodus. It begins on 15 Nisan and lasts seven days in Israel, eight in the Diaspora — typically in late March or April.
Passover is centred on the Seder — a ritual family meal and storytelling ceremony held on the first night (and second night in the Diaspora). It is the most widely observed Jewish occasion, celebrated across all Jewish backgrounds.
2028 Dates
| Date | Saturday, April 8, 2028 |
Dates are calculated automatically and may vary by ±1 day. Always confirm with your local religious authority.
Traditions & Observance
The Passover Seder
The Seder follows the Haggadah — a text retelling the Exodus through prayers, songs, and 15 structured steps. Children ask the Four Questions (Ma Nishtana) that open the storytelling. The Seder plate holds symbolic foods: shankbone, bitter herbs, charoset, parsley, and a roasted egg. Four cups of wine are drunk.
Removing Chametz
In the weeks before Passover, homes are cleaned to remove all chametz — any leavened grain product. The night before, a candle-lit search for chametz (bedikat chametz) is performed and remaining chametz is burned the following morning. Many sell their chametz to a non-Jew for the duration of the holiday.
Matzah — The Bread of Affliction
Matzah (unleavened flatbread) is eaten throughout Passover in place of chametz, recalling the haste of the Exodus — no time for bread to rise. Eating matzah at the Seder is a biblical commandment. Many use handmade shmurah matzah, watched from harvest to baking to ensure no leavening occurs.
Hol HaMoed and the Last Days
The intermediate days (Hol HaMoed) are semi-festive, with many taking family outings. The last day of Passover commemorates the splitting of the Red Sea. Yizkor, the memorial service for departed loved ones, is recited on the last day.
Other Years
Passover begins at sundown on 14 Nisan. Israel observes 7 days; the Diaspora observes 8. Confirm dates with your local synagogue.