JEWS CELEBRATE ANCIENT STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders and Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writers

``Why is this night different from all other nights?''

That question, traditionally posed by children, will be asked tonight in Jewish households all over the world as Passover begins at sundown.

But Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs of Temple Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills said Passover isn't just for Jews. All people can relate to its universal themes of slavery, freedom and justice.

``It's about slavery and freedom today, the truths that are being told and powerful people being confronted,'' said Jacobs, adding that Passover is his favorite holiday.

Passover - or Pesach, which means ``passing over'' or ``protection'' in Hebrew - is the eight-day observance that commemorates the freedom and Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II more than 3,000 years ago.

When Moses first asked the Pharaoh to free the Jews, who were kept as slaves, the Pharaoh refused. So God unleashed a series of 10 plagues on the land, the last of which was the slaying of the firstborn.

Jews were told to mark their homes with lamb's blood so that they would be ``passed over'' and spared this final plague.

The plague of darkness is very significant, Jacobs said.

``When you can't tell the difference in terms of who is your brother, who is your sister, when you only put forth hatred and prejudice against other people, then the plague of darkness is still among us. You have to do more than just light a match; you have to light your own heart and soul to rid yourself of prejudice.''

The first two nights of Passover are celebrated with a ceremonial dinner called a Seder, during which the story of the Exodus from Egypt is retold, and special, symbolic foods are served.

The literal translation of the Hebrew word Seder is ``order,'' and in the days leading up to Passover a lot of work goes into giving the festive meal that order and preparing the Jewish home for Passover.

``Everybody gets their chores. Everybody pitches in. We do it in a fun way, not as a hardship,'' said Rabbi Yossi Gordon of Chabad of Woodland Hills.

Farbod Youshei, 22, said his family's two restaurants in Encino - Jerusalem Kitchen and Jerusalem Pizza - are closed for seven days every year for Passover because of the impossibility of cleaning out all the ``chametz,'' the leavened bread, crumbs and bread residue that Jews must get rid of before Passover.

``Actually, it's like a vacation for us,'' Youshei said, adding that Passover is the only time his family takes an extended break.

Karma Hughes, 47, of Silver Lake said she is not Jewish but has been to Passover Seders before. Hughes was invited to one this year and was looking at a kosher bakery in Valley Village on Sunday for a dessert to bring.

``I've just been hanging around Jews all my life, so they call me an honorary Jew,'' said Hughes, who works as a private investigator.

On March 28, Jacobs had a multifaith Seder at the temple that was attended by about 200 people, including Sikhs, Muslims, Jews and Christians, with the theme of ``Breaking the Silence.'' And today he will have about 30 people from all different faiths at a personal Seder in his home.

At Kadima Hebrew Academy in Woodland Hills, parents and children shared in a model Seder on Friday afternoon to get ready for the real thing. Participants sang and ate matzo, an unleavened bread.

Matzo is served because the Israelites left Egypt so hastily they did not have time to prepare bread. Bitter herbs symbolize the bitterness of slavery, but parsley is served as a symbol of spring and hope renewed.

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Fifth-graders at Kadima Hebrew Academy in Woodland Hills perform a song before participating in a model Seder.

(2) Foods on the Passover Seder plate are dictated by centuries-old Jewish religious tradition - for example, roasted egg and shank bone symbolizing mourning and sacrifice.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer