You may have noticed a special section at Larry's Market, filled with brightly colored boxes that contain in turn a prodigious variety of goods made from matzah - unleavened bread. From matzah balls and Passover noodles to matzah cake meal and even chocolate, these Passover treats represent the beginning of spring and the Passover holiday.
So what's the meaning behind this very large cracker?
Passover is a holiday that celebrates the liberation, approximately 3,000 years ago, of the Israelites from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Leaving quickly, they did not have time for their bread to rise and, therefore, baked unleavened bread, called matzah.
This joyous holiday brings families together from around the world to participate in a Seder and remember the story of their ancient people with symbolic foods, songs and many different personal traditions.
Before Passover begins, Jews search their homes and remove anything made from the five major grains, referred to as hametz, and replace it with products made with matzah. Some families actually "sell" any leftover hametz to non-Jewish neighbors and friends and keep a special set of dishes just for Passover.
The Passover holiday lasts eight days, with a Seder held on the first two nights. On April 23, Jewish families from Queen Anne will celebrate the Exodus from Egypt as it is told in the Haggadah, the traditional Passover text.
Jason Brotman and his family conduct a 15-to-20-minute Seder using passages from several Haggadahs. "Over the years," Jason explained, "we were able to create our own special Seder by combining several different Haggadah versions. Our Seder allows just enough time for every family member to participate in the readings."
"At my 25-person Seder," Karen Dixon added, "which includes my rabbi and cantor, we all read from a traditional Haggadah. And my Seder can last up to four hours."
The Seder begins with a blessing over the wine, and during the Seder four glasses of wine are poured to represent the four stages of Exodus: freedom, deliverance, redemption and release.
"My sister really enjoys this part of the Seder," Mike Azose quipped. "She always reminds us when it's time to refill our wine glasses."
After the blessing over the wine, participants recite the meaning behind the first symbolic food on the Seder plate, a vegetable, usually parsley, which is dipped into salt water to represent the tears shed by Jewish slaves.
Following the parsley, one of the three matzahs on the table is broken. One section of the matzah is returned to its original pile, and the other becomes the "afikoman," or dessert. Parents usually hide the afikoman for the children to find after dinner.
"When I was younger, my grandfather used to give money to every kid," Jason explained. "Whether you found the afikoman or not, everyone received a prize."
Mike's family doesn't look for the afikoman. Instead, his family takes turns wearing it. It is a Sephardic tradition to wear the middle matzah on your shoulder to remember the burden the Jews had to carry.
After the afikoman is hidden, the youngest participant is called upon to recite the Four Questions, a short overview of the story of Passover, in Hebrew and English.
"The most important part of the Seder is the storytelling," Jason said. "It is important to share the story of our ancestors with future generations."
"Children bring a lot to the Seder," Karen added. "I really enjoy their participation in the ritualistic storytelling."
The Seder continues with a blessing over the matzah and bitter herbs. The Seder participants eat the bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery.
Next the bitter herbs are eaten with a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine called charoset, which symbolizes the mortar used to build Egyptian buildings. For good measure, this unusual combination is even made into a charoset and bitter herb sandwich, with matzah, of course.
"It's very difficult not to fill up on the matzah and charoset," Mike explained. "At this point in the Seder, I have to remind myself to save room for dinner."
Jordan Lott also looks forward to the dinner portion of the Seder. "Our food is so unique to our family," Jordon said. "Every relative brings their own special dish. I couldn't imagine a Seder without Grandma Helen's chicken soup or Auntie Sandra's brisket."
After the meal, a fifth cup of wine is poured and set aside for Elijah, the ancient prophet believed to herald the Messiah. The door is also left open in anticipation of his arrival.
Whether this ancient prophet actually drinks the wine or not is left for you to decide. Leave your door open this Passover. Who knows, maybe Elijah will pay you a visit!
The Seder Plate
The Seder plate is the centerpiece of Seder dinner. Each plate usually has five or six foods that remind us of the struggle of the Israelites and their journey to freedom. The six symbols are:
*Vegetable - A vegetable, usually parsley, is dipped into salt water to symbolize the tears of slavery.
*Bitter vegetable - This vegetable is often used in addition to the bitter herb.
*Bitter herbs - This bitter herb, usually raw horseradish, symbolizes the bitterness of slavery.
*Charoset - A mixture of apples, walnuts and wine represents the mortar the Jews used to build Egyptian buildings.
*Egg - An egg is the symbol of new life and the coming of spring.
*Shank bone - A lamb or veal shank bone represents the sacrificial lamb offering.
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