Passover

When I think of Passover I think of the Jewish holiday that occurs in the spring where you cannot eat bread for seven days. This absence of bread represents “when Pharaoh freed the Israelites, and they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten” (wikipedia.com). Thus, Jews eat matza and it acts as the primary symbol of the holiday. Many original foods can be made from matza including two of my favorite – matza bray and matza pizza. I am a Reform Jew and although I am not compelled to “keep Passover,” I always try my best to follow the rules of the holiday, which bans the presence of yeast and other specific ingredients in foods. “The Passover Seder Meal is a Jewish ritual feast held on the first and the second night of Passover” (wikipedia.com). Seders will be taking place on the Indiana University campus at both the Hillel and Chabad centers in addition to Kappa Kappa Gamma and the freshman dorm Foster. Students are enabled to participate for a small fee of twelve to sixteen dollars. The food will be kosher and students are encouraged to stop by to participate in this holy holiday. My grandmother encourages me to attend the school Seder at Hillel since I will not be able to attend the Seder that my family is hosting at my home. In contrast to Conservative and Orthodox Jews, the Seders that my family holds do not occupy a long period of time. The Seder typically lasts for fifteen to twenty minutes. My favorite Passover memory occurs at the end of the Passover meal - looking for the Afikomen. Passover is a wonderful holiday for family members to get together to honor their Jewish pride and history.