1 week Ago
The model matzo bakery at Chabad Center for Jewish Living in Manchester hummed with anticipation on April 6. For eight children, including a handful aged 4 or younger, it was their first time making matzo, the traditional unleavened bread served during Passover, which commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Jen Pinard of Manchester brought her daughter Madilyn for an immersion in their Jewish culture and faith.
“I’ve never made matzo before,” Pinard said. “I grew up in a multi-religion household. My father’s Protestant, my mother’s Jewish and my husband is Catholic.
” Easter is widely celebrated, she said. Pinard smiled with her daughter. “It’s important for her to learn what Passover is.
” This year, the eight-day festival of Passover begins at sundown on Saturday, April 12, and continues until after nightfall on Sunday, April 20. Festive dinners, or Seders, are held on April 12 and 13. It’s a time of joy, thanks, family and feasting — a Jewish Thanksgiving in many ways, said Rabbi Levi Krinsky of the Chabad Center.
“There are a lot of preparations, including ridding your house of chometz,” the Hebrew word for any form of leavened bread, Krinsky said. That includes muffins, pasta, challah bread, bagels and bialys. “What are we making today?” Krinsky asked the wide-eyed children at the Center’s Model Matzah Bakery.
“Pizza? Falafel?” Little hands shot up to be called on. “Matzo, that’s right!” Making matzo from start to finish, from grinding the flour and kneading the dough to baking the traditional flatbread in a stone oven — all within 18 minutes, gives the children hands-on experience of their Jewish heritage, said Krinsky. Eating matzo is one of the fundamental observances of Passover.
The 18-minute time limit commemorates the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt, not allowing enough time for the dough to rise, Krinsky explained. “It’s energizing the children and piquing their interest in the story of the exodus,” Krinsky said. Passover and Seder dinners include “telling the story of our ancestry.
” At the Seders, “We look forward to being together. Our table will be full, with lots of wine and goodies for everyone.” Matzo, a central part of the meal and ritual celebration, is essentially flour and water — “poor man’s bread.
It represents humility and being humble,” the rabbi said. At the Chabad on Sunday, Krinsky helped 4-year-old Ezra Kamerman grind kernels of wheat. He helped 4-year-old Eliza Altabet measure a cup of flour.
As soon as the rabbi combined the flour and water, a timer was set for 18 minutes. The resulting matzo dough, after it was rolled and perforated, resembled crepe-thin pita bread with holes. The pancake-like rounds were loaded into a 400-degree oven to bake for two to three minutes.
A professional matzo oven bakes the dough at 2,000 degrees, Krinsky said. The children’s eyes were riveted on Krinsky, the master baker. It was time for a favorite joke.
“Why did the rabbi make a matzo bakery? Because he kneaded the dough.” The kids and their parents erupted in giggles. Rachel Kamerman, Ezra’s mom, said, “His cousins all live in Jerusalem.
This is the closest we can get. It’s important that he learns the religious pieces and the cultural pieces” of Judaism. “When it comes time for Seder on Saturday, he can understand the story behind matzo and why.
” “When I was a little girl, I did this with my sister. We have that picture and we remember it,” said Eliza’s mom, who also brought her 2-year-old daughter, Noa, to make matzo. With the state of the world, the war in Israel and Gaza, and the families of Jewish hostages still in brutal conditions awaiting their release, it’s a time of prayer, and also resurgence in interest and practice of Jewish faith, Krinsky said.
“I think this will be a widely, widely celebrated Passover.” he said. He said the Chabad will host a Seder for about 60 people who don’t have family to celebrate with.
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