Tomorrow, at sundown, marks the start of the first day of Passover, the holiday that marks the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.
Passover is a joyous celebration of the Exodus, the story of how the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and left for the promised land, “a land flowing with milk and honey,” as recalled in the bible, specifically in Shemot, or Exodus, Chapter 13, Verse 5.
The commemoration of Passover comes from Exodus Chapter 13, Verse 8: “And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, “Because of this, the Lord did [this] for me when I went out of Egypt.”
Today Passover is celebrated with a festive holiday meal the first two nights known as a Seder. Seder is the Hebrew word for “order” and a Seder follows a particular order that includes reciting a set order of psalms and prayers and the scripted retelling of the story of the Exodus, as well as the consumption of matzoh, or unleavened bread, in commemoration of how the Israelites left Egypt without having sufficient time to allow their bread to rise.
The commemoration of Passover comes from Exodus Chapter 13, Verse 8: “And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, “Because of this, the Lord did [this] for me when I went out of Egypt.”
Just as is the case with Good Friday and Easter, Passover is not observed as a federal or state holiday: relatively few offices close and most people simply go to work. Similar to members of other faiths, Jews have a variety of observance levels: Some observe the Sabbath and holidays to a minimal extent and some adhere fully, which means that all forms of vehicular travel, writing, direct use of electrical devices, telephones, smartphones, and computers including social media, texting, and e-mail are prohibited. On holidays such as Passover, these restrictions are in place on the first two and last two days of the festival and non-essential work is prohibited on the intermediate four days.
Here’s what you need to know about what’s open for business and operating in the United States – and what isn’t – on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES All Federal government offices are open on those days, as will be almost all city and state offices and courthouses.
POST OFFICE The Post Office is open. Mail will be delivered.
PACKAGE DELIVERY SERVICES UPS and FedEx will deliver packages on those days as usual.
BANKS Financial institutions will be open, except for those operated by religious owners. In some cases, they will shut down their automated teller machines as well.
SCHOOLS Some are closed for Passover and spring recess from April 22 through April 30, including the country’s largest school district, the New York City Board of Education. Some colleges and universities may also be closed.
FINANCIAL MARKETS The nation’s stock and bond markets will be open on those days. Some brokerages operated by religious owners may, however, be closed.
TRANSPORTATION Most local transportation systems, such as buses, subways, and commuter rail systems, will operate on normal schedules although some systems may operate additional trains Monday afternoon to accommodate travelers and commuters leaving early for the first Seder.
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