Passover Jesus Movie Marathon 24 Hours Live

Passover 2026 begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and concludes at nightfall on Thursday, April 9, 2026, for Jewish communities in the Diaspora (outside Israel).  In Israel, the holiday is observed for seven days, ending on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. 

Key dates and observances include:

• First Seder: Held on the evening of April 1, 2026. 

• Second Seder: Held on the evening of April 2, 2026 (Diaspora tradition). 

• Chol HaMoed (Intermediate Days): April 4 through April 7, 2026. 

• Seventh Day: April 8, 2026, commemorating the splitting of the Red Sea. 

• Eighth Day: April 9, 2026 (Diaspora), marking the end of the festival. 

The holiday commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt and is marked by the prohibition of leavened products (chametz) and the consumption of matzah.

The Greatest Story Ever Told is a 1965 American epic religious film that retells the Biblical account of Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity through to the Ascension. Produced and directed by George Stevens, the film features an ensemble cast and includes the final film performances of Claude Rains and Joseph Schildkraut.

The origins of The Greatest Story Ever Told trace back to a half-hour radio series in 1947, inspired by the four canonical Gospels. The series was later adapted into a 1949 novel by Fulton Oursler. In 1954, Twentieth Century Fox acquired the film rights to Oursler’s novel, but development stalled for several years. In November 1958, Stevens joined the project, agreeing to write and direct. However, in September 1961, Fox withdrew due to concerns over the film’s projected cost and its thematic similarities to King of Kings (1961), another religious biopic about Jesus.

Limited Passover and Easter ceremonies held at Jerusalem holy sites amid war restrictions

Old City largely desolate as just a handful of clergy allowed to perform Passover priestly blessing at the Western Wall and Easter Sunday services at Church of Holy Sepulchre

The most celebrated version is the 1956 epic The Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharaoh Rameses.  This biblical adventure film, which dramatizes the life of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt, is renowned for its grand scale, Oscar-winning visual effects, and a budget of $13 million that made it the most expensive film ever made at the time. 

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American musical biblical drama film directed by Norman Jewison and written by Jewison and Melvyn Bragg based on the 1970 concept album by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.  The film stars Ted Neeley as Jesus, Carl Anderson as Judas Iscariot, Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene, and Barry Dennen as Pontius Pilate, depicting the final week of Jesus’ life through a modern, anachronistic lens.