HAPPY PASSOVER 2024

This year, with all the strife in the Middle East, Passover might just mean more than ever to my people.

It’s actually always been a religious holiday, but between the delicious and special once-a-year food*, songs, and, for me, chocolate-covered matzahs, many celebrants have lost sight of the real meaning of the occasion. *[Note: If you’d like to treat your guests, and yourself, to the most fabulous Passover dessert ever, here’s the link to my recipe, which I perfected, (from previously-published ideas,) out of desperation during that first Passover in Covid isolation: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/recipe-tower-of-matzahs-recipe.]

I have to be honest and say that I’ve never totally understood the holiday myself despite attending many Passover seders myself. My biggest knowledge of it has come from—and I am a tad ashamed to admit it—the movie The Ten Commandments. But, though far from religious, nor even particularly observant, I do appreciate all opportunities to celebrate my heritage.

And as a little girl, I always thought it was fun to bring up our different set of dishes from the basement because you’re supposed to do a complete change of tableware for Passover. I got a kick out of helping with that transition. I didn’t even mind switching from bread to matzah for the duration, although to this day I still feel guilty about sneaking a bit of delicious gravy-soaked bread into my mouth from a plate of hot roast beef at an eatery during that period, when I was about twelve.

Back to the seriousness of this year. We must spare a thought for all the victims, (both physically and emotionally,) of not only what Iran is doing to Israel now, but of the evil Hamas attacks on October 7th. I can’t believe that there are still over one hundred Israelis being held hostage since that date over six months ago! Hasn’t the world learned by now that violence, especially perpetrated on innocents, is never the answer?

Several people have suggested that, for those who are hosting seders, they should leave an empty chair at the table symbolically for a hostage. That’s a lovely idea since, for many, these won’t be the regular celebratory dinners this year.