Jews in the Washington region will gather with their families at sundown today to observe the first night of Passover, the commemoration of the Hebrews as slaves under Pharaoh Ramses II, and a celebration of their exodus from Egypt.

“For some people it’s more of a social or family gathering,” said Rabbi Ethan Seidel of Tifereth Israel, located on 16th Street in far Northwest D.C. “For others it’s a deeply religious thing.”