OK, so Pesach didn't exist in Paleolithic times. Our ancestors were shepherds, with agriculture thrown in once they settled down. But the fact remains, they didn't eat processed food. They baked their own matzah and they didn't attempt to game the system by making fake substitutes for their everyday food. I was hanging out on … Continue reading A Paleo Passover – and I’m on a Jimmy Moore podcast!!
Tag: Passover
#blogExodus – Changing
This will be a very short blog post, because today I am changing my kitchen over. There will be much cleaning of appliances and counters. The latter will be covered with fresh contact paper. I will kasher the sink and the oven, bring up selected Passover dishes from the basement, and start my cooking. I … Continue reading #blogExodus – Changing
#blogExodus – Redeeming
The Passover Haggadah tells us that the redemption from Egypt did not only happen to our ancestors, but to us, personally. Just as the Sages tell us that we, personally, stood at Sinai when the Torah was given, so the Talmud says: ืืื ืืืจ ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืจืืืช ืืช ืขืฆืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืฆื ืืืฆืจืื โIn … Continue reading #blogExodus – Redeeming
#blogExodus – Counting
The interesting thing about this prompt is that the counting is not part of the Seder or its preparations. When we think about Passover, the big production tends to be the focus. But not only does the holiday itself run for seven days (eight outside Israel), it continues with the counting of the Omer, or … Continue reading #blogExodus – Counting
#blogExodus – Leaving
The Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzrayim, which means the Narrow Place. It's also the same root as the word for labour pains. Birth imagery has been associated with Passover from the beginning, with the explicit mention of the month of Aviv, or spring in the Torah. The Sages refer to the splitting of the … Continue reading #blogExodus – Leaving
#blogExodus – Asking
Why is this night different from all other nights? The youngest person present at the Seder has been asking that question for millennia. The rest of the evening is spent answering the question, beginning with the words "We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt." But it is interesting that the answer is not given until … Continue reading #blogExodus – Asking
#blogExodus – Learning
Passover, as such, is not particularly associated with learning. The next Pilgrimage Holiday in the calendar, Shavu'ot, commemorates the giving of the Torah and is celebrated by learning, traditionally all night. But on Passover we are primarily occupied with doing and telling, not so much by learning. Still, there is no question that a lot … Continue reading #blogExodus – Learning
#blogExodus – Blessing
This prompt is interesting to me because it is actually quite difficult. While Passover has the usual blessings for a holiday (on candles, wine, handwashing, bread or Matzah in this case, the Shehechiyanu for a new experience), I can't, offhand, think of any particular blessing that is special to Passover. The entire holiday is one … Continue reading #blogExodus – Blessing
#blogExodus – Cleaning
I have to confess that house cleaning is not one of my favourite activities at the best of times. I have friends who find catharsis and calm in cleaning, but so far I have not been able to get into that zone. The commandment to rid our houses of leaven has been interpreted by many … Continue reading #blogExodus – Cleaning
#blogExodus – Matzah
Ah, Matzah. The bread of affliction. Sales of Kosher for Passover prune juice soar at this time of year, as the flat bread made of white flour and water leads to widespread dietary distress among the faithful. It is particularly an issue for those who try to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle. Matzah is quite literally … Continue reading #blogExodus – Matzah