Among the days April 12 and 20, 2025 Jewish families around the world will meet to celebrate the Pessach the party that remembers the Liberation of the Jewish people after 400 years of slavery in Egypt.
Far beyond festive days and dinners, Pessach is a sensory and spiritual experience, where each food served at the table carries deep meanings.
Although it is often called “Jewish Easter”, the association with the Christian celebration is not appropriate.
“Jewish parties have nothing to do with non -Jewish, so many people confuse, but it is not correct to associate each other.
The word “Pessach” means “passage” and refers to the moment God spared Jewish homes during the last plague sent to Egypt – the death of the firstborn. From there, the journey began towards freedom.
Rabbi Pessah Kauffman
According to the businessman FERNANDO MOTA of the third generation of the family owner of the House Zilanna, Specializing in Jewish gastronomy since 1972“Pessach” represents a moment of profound connection with history and values of freedom, renewal and gratitude.
“It is a celebration that unites families around the table, sharing stories and traditions that cross centuries. My most striking memories involve family meetings, the aromas of typical dishes, and the thrill of reliving the rituals of Seder night. It is a date that reinforces the importance of tradition and cultural transmission emphasizes.
O Seder: rituals, stories and a lot of symbology
The Jewish celebration begins with the Seder, Ritual dinner consisting of fifteen steps that mix reading, prayer, singing and many symbolic elements. “It’s a night to retell the story of Egypt’s exit and transmit tradition to new generations,” explains the rabbi.
During the Seder, each person should feel like Egypt. Children ask questions – known as the “four questions” – and adults answer with the narrative of liberation. The Central Travessa do Ritual, called Keará gathers emblematic foods that help tell this story.
What are Keará’s foods and their meanings at the Pessah celebration?
- Matzá (unleavened bread)
It represents the hurry with which the Jews left Egypt, with no time for bread to ferment.
Symbolizes haste and humility. - Maror (bitter herbs)
Symbolizes the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. It can be rooted or Roman lettuce.
Represents suffering and resistance. - Charosset
Sweet mixture of apples, walnuts, wine and cinnamon, which resembles the mortar used by slaves.
It brings out forced labor with sweetness and resilience. - Zeroá (Lamb Bone)
It represents Pessach’s sacrifice held in the temple of Jerusalem.
Memory of ritual and ancestral faith. - Beitzá (boiled or marbled egg)
It represents the mourning for the destruction of the temple and the resilience of the Jewish people.
Symbolizes cycles, rebirth and losses. - Karpás (vegetable as celery or potato)
Dipby in saltwater, it represents the tears shed by slaves and the hope of freedom.
Connects pain and hope.
Food with purpose
At Pessach’s table, nothing is served by chance. The chef Andrea Kaufmann, Ahead of AK Deli, says that every detail is meaningful.
“Even the way we sit at the table matters – everyone has to be in very comfortable chairs and pillows, well leaning. The amount of wine that is taken and the moment when they take a meaning also,” he explains.
The chef also says that at the celebration table never has bread, but always has the Matzá which is like a cracker made with a specific flour that It represents the bread that the Jewish people could not bake the night they ceased to be slaves.
“Tonight, the bread was placed on the back and they ran out. Throughout the week we didn’t eat anything in flour and yeast. Very important yet on the Pessach table is the main course, the lamb, which represents the lamb that was baked in the night in question,” he reinforces.
At AK Deli, the chef offers a special menu that respects traditions and brings modern rereading: Chicken broth with Kneidlach (Matsá Balls), Gefilte Fish, Embaqueche tongue, Matsá gnocchi, lamb with Rôti sauce and even Pessach Cheesecake, made with Matsá flour. Already at Casa Zilanna, it is possible to find classics like Brisket, Kneidlach soup and traditional charsetet.
The traditional dishes of a Pessach dinner:
- Gefilte Fish: boiled fish dumplings, typical of eastern Europe;
- Kneidlach soup: chicken broth with matsa balls;
- Brisket: Roasted beef slowly;
- Roast Lamb: evocation of the sacrifice of the night of the exodus.
Check out 3 places where order typical dishes of Pessach in São Paulo:
- AK Deli
Inspired by the delicatessens of New York, the AK Deli, Opened in 2023, it is the third gastronomic venture of chef Andrea Kaufmann. The house is located in Pinheiros and is intended to unite practicality, nutrition and warmth through a kitchen that follows two major cultural references – Jewish and Mediterranean.
In addition to the base of healed, fermented and preserved foods, such as Picles and Lox (Casa’s flagship and chef’s flagship), there are starters, main dishes, side dishes, sandwiches, wraps, salads, breads, sauces and desserts, as well as a newly launched menu of breakfast.
With rotisseria service, AK acts as a practical solution for delivery or withdrawal of recipes that travel well, some already fully ready, others to just finish and serve
For Pessach, it is already tradition for AK to offer a complete menu for the occasion, with traditional recipes on a more modern outfit that can be ordered until April 8th. Golden broth with Kneidlach; Miscellaneous pasties; Gefilte Fish, Salmon Tartare; PASTRAMI AND EMBABECHE LANGUAGE These are some suggestions of the menu. There too the customer can order the Keará complete, which will come in a special ceramics.
AK Deli: Rua dos Macuris, 440, Pinheiros/Tel.: (11) 91923-4685/Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 8h to 18h; Saturdays and Sundays, from 8am to 4pm.
Zilana house
THE Zilanna House It was founded in 1972 by the couple Anna and Antonio, who dedicated 11 years of their life as a marketer before opening the establishment. Located in the Higienópolis neighborhood, it is a traditional Jewish food store, offering typical products like Varenikes, Burekas, Sambusaks, beans, Gefilte Fish, Kneidales, Cakes, Pies, Pasta and Frozen Made in the store itself, as well as imported products.
On all commemorative dates, the place prepares a special orders menu. For Pessach 2025, customers will have suggestions for antipasti, entrances, fish and meat . The menu also includes suggestions for quiches, pies and pancakes – all made with potato starch, respecting following and respecting the tradition of not using flour and yeast at this time. More information can be found in the Instagram of the place.
Zilanna House: Rua Itambé, 506, Sao Paulo/Tel.: (11) 9 7622-2768 (PHONE FOR ORDERS)/Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 7 pm; On Saturdays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
House Santa Luzia
With almost 20 years of tradition in offering items for Pessach, the House Santa Luzia Prepared a varied menu and complete with over 85 options for celebration.
The dishes were created in partnership with the home consultants’ chefs and serve the celebration as a whole, considering the 8 days of party, in addition to the two special dinners of Seder.
The news of the menu undergoes entrances, main dishes and desserts, always respecting the ban on fermented products.
Among the classics of Jewish cuisine, customers will find the GELFITE FISH delicate fish cooked fish cooked in fish broth; the Kneidlach de Matzá balls made of matzá that must be served in a broth; and the Matzá Varenikes with Golden onions fresh pasta prepared with matzá flour, stuffed with mashed potatoes and onions.
Already as main, the whole chicken baked with purple onion and potatoes and the pan meat in rust sauce They gain prominence.
Orders can be made by email or personally until the day. The full menu is available on the site.
House Santa Luzia: Alameda Lorena, 1471-São Paulo/Tel.: (11) 3897-5023/Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm.
- Bonus Tip: Tchocolath
If you are looking for souvenirs to give your friends and family at Pessach, the Tchocolath Prepared a catalog with chocolate delights and fruits to celebrate the date.
Among the suggestions, the client will find Hai and Hamsá currency units in white and black chocolate that bring special symbolism to the occasion, remembering the liberation of the Jewish people and Jewish faith – they can be found individually or in formats for gifts.
The highlight is the ceramic plate that, in addition to bringing a hai coin with details in white chocolate, also has apricots bathed with milk chocolate – a gift option and also to serve as a dessert in one of the commemorative dinners.
Tchocolath: Antônio Afonso Street, 19-Vila Nova Conceição, São Paulo/Tel.: (11) 97652-3081/Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 8h to 19h; Sunday from 9am to 6pm
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The post find out what you eat and what are the meanings of the Pessach Appeared First on CNN Brazil V&G.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
