I love Passover. I love Passover more than any other holiday, Jewish or otherwise. I remember as a kid – a super-Jewish-loving kid – how excited I would be when the Passover foods would start turning up in the house. My grandparents’ pantry was on some shelves leading up toward our attic; I remember creeping up the stairs looking for tins of macaroons or ring-jells. I remember how excited my mom got about those jelly fruit slices.
I remember the excitement of waiting for my Gramps to make matzah brei – savory, never sweet. (I remember the horror of watching Matt put jam on his matzah brei for the first time…)
I remember going to Spring Break camp at our JCC with matzah and cream cheese sandwiches packed and how sad we kids were that the vending machines were turned off for the holiday, lest we inadvertently consume chameitz!
On Passover, our food choices become about the story of our people. Every time we pass over a regular slice of pizza for toasty and crunchy matzah pizza from our own ovens, we know that we are bound to Jews around the world by our choice. Each time we opt for matzah ball soup, we are infusing ourselves with the history of our people – from slavery to freedom, from Eastern Europe to Ellis Island. We can taste the love and longing of generations.
For me, Passover is a heightened experience of the sense of peoplehood, purpose, and meaning that can be derived from thoughtful food choices. Passover is the most food-centric Jewish holiday that is widely observed by American liberal Jews.
For Reform Jews who might not have a kashrut or Jewish mindful eating practice, Passover can be a glimpse into the lifestyle of those who interact with food Jewishly each and every day. Jews throughout the world – and Reform Jews, too – are making Jewish choices about how and what they eat at every meal all year long. If one mindfully chooses to eat sustainably, locally, ethically or not to eat pork or shellfish all year round, one can feel that same sense of unity with Jewish people and values and derive spiritual meaning each and every day.
On Passover, or any day, let our food help us tell our story to those with whom we share our meals, but also in the privacy of our own thoughts and the choices that we make for ourselves. Wishing you a sweet Chag HeAviv – a refreshing spring holiday – Happy Passover.
