Passover Pastimes & Presents to Partake of, When All the Prep Is Done

The Fellowship  |  April 18, 2019

closeup image of matza

Jewish families are busy cleaning their homes, scrubbing every corner to clear any remnants of chametz, or leavened dough. Passover is a time when Jews follow the biblical instruction to avoid all chametz and remember God’s rescue of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery thousands of years ago. Learn more about Passover here.

In preparation of this special and holy time, the Times of Israel put together a list of holiday-related activities happening now in Israel. If you’re in the Holy Land this holiday, check out these festivities:

3) You can impress your fellow seder guests with inside information about haroset, the traditional seder food that mimics the cement used by the Israelite slaves to build the pyramids. Archaeologist and food historian Susan Weingarten traces the development of the ancient dish in “Haroset: A Taste of Jewish History,” published by Toby Press. Her academic but readable volume looks at the web of social, religious and cultural contexts that influenced this simple dish.

4) There’s a sweet little jar of haroset as well as some other treats in this month’s IsraeliBox, a new subscription box service that delivers a pink-tissued carton of surprises each month, with a range of five or six food items and clever, Israeli-designed tchotchkes, including at least one with a socially conscious message. “We curate the magic that is Israel we love in a box and send it to anyone who loves and misses it,” said co-founder Sharon Avis.

Read the full list here.