She says that growing up, she rarely saw her Sephardi Mizrahi Jewish culture reflected back at her — but Passover gives her an opportunity to reconnect with her identity and family.

What is Passover?

The holiday involves a series of rituals, with each one representing a different part of the exodus story.

What is the Seder?

Although the composition of the meal varies in each region, the Seder is comprised of three core elements: unleavened bread, bitter herbs like horseradish, celery, and cos lettuce, and a bone.

The Seder plate is steep in symbolic foods representing the story of Jewish exodus from Egypt. Source: Getty / Portland Press Herald

The bread recalls the haste with which the Israelites had to flee, meaning they could not leaven their bread (make it rise); the herbs symbolise the harshness of slavery; and the bone represents sacrifice.

Salty water pays homage to the slaves’ tears, and a fruit paste symbolises the mortar with which the Jewish people made bricks.

What else happens during Passover?

Many people attend synagogue services throughout the week, and families often take the opportunity to spend time together, sharing meals or taking children on outings. Community organisations also step in, distributing food packages to support those in need.

Elana Benjamin is a Jewish-Australian writer of Indian-Iraqi heritage. Passover gives her the opportunity to celebrate her Sepahrdi-Mizrahi Jewish identity. Source: Supplied

‘Not one way to be Jewish’

“For so many years, I didn’t see the Sephardi Mizrahi foods of my community reflected back to me,” she explained.

“There’s no reason that if you’re not a Persian Jew that you couldn’t do that in your Seder. They’re really fun, beautiful traditions.”

Not just tradition