​This is a photograph, taken in 1972 in Kfar Chabad, of a man baking Shmurah Matzah in preparation for Pesach. At least six, round matzahs are draped over a large pole which the baker is putting into the brick oven.

Shmurah Matzah (literally, guarded matzah) is matzah that has been supervised from the time that the wheat for the flour was harvested until the baking is completed. Regular matzah is supervised from the time that the wheat is ground, but not during the period between harvesting and grinding. Shmurah Matzah can also be machine made, but the matzah made at Kfar Chabad is handmade and begins three months before Pesach. This matzah is shipped to Chabad emissaries around the world. Many people make a point of eating Shmurah Matzah on Seder night and regular matzah on the following days. 

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Passover (Pesach) – Pesach, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, celebrates the freedom of the Israelites from Egypt that is described in the biblical book of Exodus. A main feature of the Pesach celebration is the Seder which is conducted in the home. The text of the Seder, as written in the Haggadah, tells the story of the Exodus with the aid of symbolic foods, songs, and discussion. As a reminder of the rushed manner in which the Israelites left Egypt, matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten during Pesach and chametz (leavened bread) is removed from the home. It is traditional to clean one’s house prior to Pesach and to perform a ceremony to remove and nullify any chametz that is in one’s possession. 

Seder – Seder night is a special evening on the first night of Pesach (and the second night in the Diaspora). The Seder is often celebrated in large groups and with extended families and involves the telling of the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their delivery from slavery. The story is detailed in the Haggadah which includes quotes from the biblical narration of the Exodus and from other Jewish sources, many of which are sung using traditional melodies. The Seder includes drinking four cups of wine, eating traditional symbolic foods such as matzah and charoset, and playing games that are directed to helping the children present understand the story. Towards the end of the Seder a festive meal is served, usually with foods that are kosher for Pesach and do not include chametz (leavened foods). The Seder has evolved throughout history, and many new traditions have been added, for example, keeping a seat empty for persecuted Jews, interfaith Seders, and special feminist Seders.

Chabad – Chabad is an acronym which stands for Chochmah, Binah, and Daat (wisdom, comprehension, and knowledge) and is part of the Lubavitch sect of Hasidism. Unlike other Hasidic groups, Chabad is renowned but being outward looking and involved in connecting Jews from all communities and parts of society to tradition. The word “Lubavitch” comes from the name of the town in Russia where the movement was based. In keeping with Hasidic tradition, Chabad-Lubavitch was led by a rabbinic dynasty that began with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812) who wrote the Tanya, the movement’s foundational text. The last Lubavitcher Rebbe was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994); since his death, he has not been replaced by another Rebbe. Rabbi Schneerson, known simply as the Rebbe, instituted an outreach movement that places rabbinic representatives, shluchim, and their families in communities around the world. There are currently approximately 5,000 shluchim in over 100 countries, who aim to help Jews learn about and perform mitzvot. Chabad is based in the United States and Israel.