Wednesday, April 08, 2009
On the edge
Thoughts on ...
When Jews talk about Passover, most stress the relevance of our ancestors' journey out of Egypt. For modern Jews, though, the important thing is, quite frankly, the food. There are eight blissful days of Hanukkah, of lighting candles, getting presents and eating latkes (potato pancakes that taste like greasy goodness).
Similarly, there are also eight days of Passover. Those eight days include a diet so cruel that by the eighth day a slice of pizza holds more value than $1 million. This diet eliminates all foods that contain yeast, corn and legumes (beans and peanuts). This means no pasta, bread, cookies or chips.
Instead, there's matzoh -- rhymes with lotsa -- unleavened bread that will ruin your life. It looks like a giant cracker and tastes as flavorful as a piece of cardboard. There's matzoh cereal for breakfast, matzoh cookies (macaroons) for lunch and matzoh soup for dinner.
Jews are supposed to eat matzoh to be reminded of the Jewish slaves who didn't have enough time to let their bread rise when escaping Egypt -- however, we really eat it to be reminded of how delicious pizza is.
-- Justina Shandler, Hidden Valley High School





