Definition

1. Proper Noun:
   • A Jewish religious festival: "Feast of the Unleavened Bread" is the name of a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is characterized by the eating of unleavened bread (matzah) for the duration of the festival.

Usage

• The term "Feast of the Unleavened Bread" is used as the specific name for this holiday, often in religious, historical, or cultural contexts. It is frequently associated with, and sometimes used interchangeably with, the holiday of Passover (Pesach), as they are closely linked in the Biblical narrative and observance.

Examples

• Proper Noun:
  • The family prepared for the Feast of the Unleavened Bread by removing all leavened products from their home.
  • According to the Torah, the Feast of the Unleavened Bread lasts for seven days.

Advanced Usage

• The "Feast of the Unleavened Bread" is deeply connected to the story of the Exodus, where the Israelites left Egypt in such haste that their bread did not have time to rise. This is why eating matzah (unleavened bread) is a central commandment of the holiday.

Variants and Related Words

• Passover (Pesach): The more common name for the holiday that begins with a Seder meal and encompasses the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. While technically the first night(s) are Passover and the following week is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in common usage the entire period is often called Passover.
• Matzah (Unleavened Bread): The flat, cracker-like bread eaten during this festival.
• Festival of Unleavened Bread: A synonymous phrase.

Synonyms

• Passover (in its broader, common usage for the entire holiday period).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To keep/observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread: To participate in and follow the rituals and dietary laws of the holiday.
  • They strictly observe the Feast of the Unleavened Bread every year.

Noun

1. (Judaism) a Jewish festival (traditionally 8 days from Nissan 15) celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt