Q 01/05

Who leads the Israelites out of slavery in the Passover story?

A) Abraham

B) Joshua

C) Moses

D) Solomon

Answer · why

C) Moses

Moses had grown up in Pharaoh's own household, adopted by the king's daughter, before returning years later to demand that his people be set free.

Q 02/05

Passover's name refers to God 'passing over' Israelite homes marked with what?

A) A lit candle

B) A palm branch

C) The blood of a lamb

D) Salt on the threshold

Answer · why

C) The blood of a lamb

The blood of a lamb was brushed onto the lintel and both doorposts with a bunch of hyssop, and no one was to step outside the door until morning.

Q 03/05

Passover begins on the 15th day of which month of the Hebrew calendar?

A) Nisan

B) Tishrei

C) Adar

D) Iyar

Answer · why

A) Nisan

Nisan is the Torah's first month of the year, even though the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, arrives six months later in Tishrei.

Q 04/05

Why does Passover traditionally run an eighth day outside Israel?

A) Temple mourning

B) Calendar doubt

C) Royal decree

D) Harvest delays

Answer · why

B) Calendar doubt

Calendar doubt: new months were once declared by a court on the testimony of moon-watchers, and distant communities kept a second day to be sure of ob...

Q 05/05

The intermediate, less-restricted days in the middle of Passover are known by what name?

A) Yom Tov

B) Shabbat HaGadol

C) Pesach Sheni

D) Chol HaMoed

Answer · why

D) Chol HaMoed

Chol HaMoed means roughly 'the weekday of the festival': these are semi-holidays on which the ban on work is eased rather than lifted, so work that wo...