More Passover Questions Answered

(2011)
Dear readers - I recently put out a call for your questions about Passover, and a number of you responded - Thank you! I will answer some of them below.

Dear Tanta Golda

I'm planning a small senior's Seder with no children. Who asks the four questions when no children attend? Empty Nester Grandpa

Grandpa, a good question and one that our sages addressed in the Talmud no less! It would seem that initially the Four Questions were added to the Seder to keep the interest of young children who might otherwise drift off during the traditionally long Seder. Now they are codified as one of the 15 things we do in a Seder as part of the Maggid - telling the story. According to the (Babylonian) Talmud, tractate Pesachim, 116a - if there are no children present at the Seder, then the leader’s wife or any other participant may read the four questions. If all else fails, and a man is celebrating a Seder alone, he must ask himself the questions!

An interesting note, Tanta Golda discovered that in the Sephardic tradition the questions are asked by the the entire group as one. So it would seem that there really is no wrong way, as long as the questions are asked!

A related question:

Does a thirteen year old that has had their Bar or Bat Mitzvah still take part in asking the four questions?  Do they hide rather than seek the afikomen?  Is there any difference in how they take part in Passover seders?

As to the first part of your question, Tanta Golda would refer you to the answer above. Is the Bar or Bat Mitzvah the youngest who’s able to ask the questions? If so, they keep on keeping on, otherwise they should pass the haggadah.  Part 2, according to the Pasachim tractate 7:3 and 109a the hide and seek game with the afikomen, like the 4 questions, is also done to keep the kinder awake and involved in the service. In some families the leader hides the afikomen and the children search for it demanding ransom for its return, in others the children “steal” the afikomen and the leader must pay to get it back. As far as Tanta Golda could discern, it really is up to individual families to determine at what age someone is too old to be eligible to seek the reward. The same holds true for other aspects of the Seder, though when Tanta Golda was a girl, after her bat mitzvah she was allowed to have wine in her glass instead of grape juice. It would seem that as long as someone is asking the 4 questions, and everyone partakes of at least a small piece of the afikomen, the particulars are up to you!

Dear Tanta,

If we are attending a home seder, what is customary/appropriate as a host or hostess gift? Baffled in Etiquette. 

My darling Baffled, you pose a question that it would seem many in the far reaches of cyber space ask. Without knowing how strictly your hosts keep Pesach, here are some safe suggestions: flowers, fresh fruit and nuts, a Passover cookbook, or Kosher for Passover wine - here you have to look for wine that has a P as well as a K. Some will explicitly state on the bottle "Kosher for Passover". What makes these so special? Well, as Tanta Golda understands it, and I may be a little off, the vineyards have been guarded by rabbis to ensure that no yeast (leavening) has come in contact with the grapes. How they do this, I don’t know. Perhaps they’re Ninjas!

 Kedem can sometimes be found in the grocery store, but this will be a very sweet wine like Manischewitz - Not really a 'classy' hostess gift.

Dear Tanta Golda,

I was recently looking at an "Italian Jewish" cook book, and was surprised to find rice recipes for Passover.  It seem that the ashkenazic and sephardic approaches to kosher differ.  How could that be?  Are there other foods acceptable as kosher by the Sephardim? Rubbing my Forehead in the Kitchen.

Another excellent question! I've touched on this in past years but it's worth repeating. Chametz means ‘leaven’. It also refers to foods forbidden during Pesach. The five grains specifically prohibited by the Rabbis are: wheat, oats, barley, rye and spelt. These are the five grains most commonly found in Europe that ferment when combined with water. Being Jews, there are now some who disagree over the prohibition of two of these grains (rye & spelt) since they are not native to Israel. But I digress. Ashkenazi Jews under the direction of The Smak - Rabbi Moshe of Kouchi in the 13^th century added “kitniyot”.  Kitniyot are usually small fleshless seeds of annual plants such as rice, corn, peas, beans, chickpeas, soya,  and caraway that can be dried and ground into flour.

Sephardic Jews, those whose ancestry was initially from the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal), but now includes Jews who reside in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, follow much less stringent customs. Kitniyot, including corn, beans and rice* may be eaten after it has been checked  three times to make certain that it has not been contaminated by chametz. *Now, I must note that some Sephardim do not eat rice. As we find in both traditions, Passover foods depend in large part on where specifically you trace your ancestry from.

Thank you for your thoughtful questions my ever inquisitive ones! If I did not get to yours this time, rest assured I’ve saved it for next year.

Hope you have a joyous Pesach with friends or family - Tanta Golda

Why Are There Kosher for Passover Marshmallows?

your link to kosher for Passover marshmallows Candy matzah

(originally published 2010)
Dear Tanta Golda,

I know that Pesach is still a month away, but yesterday I saw matzah in the store and it got me wondering why there are special “kosher for Passover” marshmallows, and can I eat peas or not? (And really, why not!?)

Pesadically Perplexed

Ah my preciously perplexed,

You ask perfectly excellent questions. And what would Passover be without questions?

Let me start off by saying that what you “can” and cannot eat on Passover is largely dependent on your ancestry. It’s true! The Talmud only prohibits 5 grains: wheat, barley, spelt, rye, and oats. This makes sense as these were the main grains found in the Middle-East*. These are traditionally referred to as chametz. (*There is now some disagreement about this.)

However, as Jews spread in Diaspora (the dispersion of the Jews beyond Israel), the rabbis adapted new customs based on local foods.

More than 80 percent of Jews today are Ashkenazim;  Jews of central or eastern European descent. Most of the customs you are probably familiar with, such as avoiding peas and corn, come from the Ashkenazi tradition. Kitniyot (translated as ‘small things’ ) are foods such as: corn, rice, beans, peas, lentils, and for some, peanuts. Now Tanta Golda has heard two different reasons for this. One is that since these foods are often grown or stored near chametz, it is difficult to be sure that they have not been contaminated. The other explanation is that these foods can be dried and ground up into flour which could be made into goods that look like chametz. How this applies to corn syrup, is beyond my ken. Tanta Golda has always thought it rather silly that one couldn’t eat foods, such as marshmallows cola, or most Candy  because they are normally made with corn syrup. Once it’s syrup, you can’t make it into bread! Obviously a rule made by men who never cook.

Sephardic Jews, those whose ancestry is from the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal), follow much less stringent customs. Corn, beans and rice* may be eaten after it has been throughly checked to make certain that it has not been contaminated by chametz. * Now, some Sephardim do not eat rice, once again, it depends on where specifically you trace your ancestry from.

And of course my sweet, what would any discussion about Jewish customs be without disagreement! This one stems around gebrouchts, wet matzah  There are those who say, heaven forbid there might be an eentsy-weentsy bit of uncooked flour left in a matzot, that when mixed with water, begins to ferment, in other words, become chametz. therefore, gebrouchts is a no-no. There are other, saner people - those who like matzah balls for example, who say this is nonsense. Anyone who’s baked matzah knows that this just isn’t possible. Again, when you leave food rules to men...(TG is very grateful her husband cooks and understands this is silliness. What would Pesach be like without matzah balls?)

I hope I’ve clarified this a bit for you dearie. As Tanta Golda gets older she’s more inclined to follow biblical traditions and eat peas on Passover! 

Have a joyful seder. Love as always, Tanta Golda

your link to kosher for Passover marshmallows Candy matzah

What is Chametz? What Goes on the Seder Plate?

(originally published 2009)
My Kinder,

Since there is no community Seder this year, Tanta Golda has received several questions about observing Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew.) Among them: What exactly is chametz? I’m always leaving something out, what goes on the Seder plate? Will other crackers take the place of matzah? What must I have at a Seder? Do I have to eat matzah for eight days?

I don’t know if I can answer all of your questions in one column, but for you, I’ll try.

Chametz means ‘leaven’. It also refers to foods forbidden during Pesach. Five grains are specifically laid out in the Talmud: wheat, oats, barley, rye and spelt. Ashkenazi Jews later added rice, corn, peas, beans and peanuts because these can be dried and ground into flour. This accounts for why many Jews will not partake of food or drinks that contain corn syrup, leading to kosher for Passover candy and Coke Cola. (Don’t get Tanta Golda started on this one…)  Back in the day, as the youngsters say, the penalty for eating, carrying or even owning chametz during Pesach was excommunication! Me, I’m grateful that rabbinic authorities have softened the penalties for this trespass.

Matzah seems to follow chametz naturally. So first: NO, other crackers can never take the place of matzah. Matzah is made from flour that is, at minimum, watched from the time of milling, to insure that it doesn’t come in contact with moisture or heat, until it is time to prepare it. Then, the entire process, from when water is added until it comes out of the oven as a finished product, must take no more than eighteen minutes for the matzah to be considered proper for Pesach. Longer than this and the dough is considered leaven.

Jewish law only requires matzah to be eaten during the Seder. It is optional the remainder of the holiday. However, one is not allowed to eat chametz until Passover has ended. So, if you want a PBJ or chopped chicken liver sandwich, you need to use matzah.

The Seder plate contains six symbolic foods. 1. roasted shankbone to remind us of the lamb’s blood painted on the doorposts of the homes of the Hebrew slaves so the angel of death would pass over them. 2. Maror (bitter herbs), usually horseradish, but some people use romaine lettuce, to remind us of the bitterness of slavery. 3. Roasted egg symbolic of rebirth, as the slaves were reborn as a free people. 4. Charoset usually combination of apples, wine, walnuts and cinnamon. (The Sephardic recipe is quite different!) This signifies the mortar the slaves used to hold bricks together. 5. Karpas a green veggie, usually parsley, symbolic of spring, which is then dipped in 6. salt water to remind us of the tears our ancestors shed.

As for what must be at any Seder table: the symbolic foods on a plate (doesn’t have to be a fancy shmansy plate); three whole matzah, the top and bottom ones take the place of the two challah ordained for Shabbat, the middle is the one specifically for Pesach and is used for the afikoman (the one later hidden). A kiddush cup for everyone and enough wine or grape juice for each person to have four glasses of wine/juice. Festive candles, as on Shabbat. Elijah’s cup, as an expression of our hope for the betterment of society. And finally, a Haggadah, preferably one for each person, but sharing is certainly allowed! 

So, now my darlings, don’t be intimidated about hosting a Seder, and have a Happy Pesach! Tanta Golda

History of Purim Shpiels

Dear Tanta Golda,

It’s almost Purim and I have a question about something that has been troubling me.  The synagogue I grew up in just chanted the ‘whole megillah’. However, the Shul I attend now always does a farcical version of the story – a shpiel. This seems a bit disrespectful. Am I just being a stick in the mud?

Dear Stick,

Well, yes.  

First, some background: The Book of Esther is not believed to have been written until well after the time it describes. It does reflect a number of important features of Persian culture which can be found in other writings. These however, were satirized in the Esther story – the mock representation of the Persian rites of gluttony, drinking, over the top display of wealth, and the whole bowing bit. So you see, the ‘whole megillah’ itself appears to be a satire.  How ironic that we do shpiels that mock a mockery!

Shpiel is a Yiddish word meaning ‘play’ or ‘skit’.  More learned people than Tanta Golda have looked into the origins of shpiels and found evidence of their existence since the 14th century. (Slightly before my time.) Initially these were silly monologues, rhymed paraphrases of the book of Esther, usually performed in people’s homes, or among Talmudic students in Yeshiva.

This idea of parody spread to the telling of stories of the Talmud, liturgy, Torah, and halakah (Jewish ritual law). One of Tanta Golda’s sources sited the ‘Tractate Peschim’ (a Talmudic discourse about Passover), where instead of bread being prohibited, water and other non-alcoholic beverages were banned!

Over time, some communities developed very rigid traditions surrounding these shpiels and held competitions. In other areas the shpiels became so raucous and vulgar that they were banned, and those found performing them, fined!  There was even heated debate among Talmudic sages about the appropriateness of men dressing in women’s clothing on this one day. Oy!

In Germany especially the plays began taking great liberties with the plot and how the characters were portrayed – perhaps making Haman (boo, hiss) a tragic figure and Mordecai a bumbling buffoon. Shpiels were a way for Jews to blow off steam and escape the harsh realities of everyday life.

Shpiels often poke fun at leaders and politics, whether they be on the world stage, or in the synagogue. Even in very Orthodox communities Purim can be a time to mock rabbis, cantors, and temple presidents.

The important thing to remember my sticky one is that we are told to retell the story. If it is done with humor, so be it. Jews are after all, known for their humor!

A happy and joyous Purim to you!

Blood Libel

Kinderlech,

Usually Tanta Golda starts off with a letter, but this time I’ve had numerous queries on a topic that has been in the news, Blood Libel, so instead I’m going to start you off with a definition and a little quiz. 

Blood Libel: The false accusation that religious minorities - usually Jews - murder children to use their blood in some aspect of their religious rituals and holidays.

Quiz: Why did Jews need blood?

1. Jews suffer from hemorrhoids, as a punishment for killing Jesus, and drinking blood was considered the best cure.
2. All Jewish men menstruate and need a monthly transfusion.
3. When Jewish men are circumcised they lose so much blood they need to drink Christian babies’ blood.
4. Christian blood is the chief ingredient in matzah.
5. All of the above

Believe it or not, the answer is e. Reality rarely has any bearing in hate speech.

Anyone who has some knowledge of Jewish law, would know that killing someone and using their blood, is an anathema to our beliefs.

1. Of course, the 10 commandments passed onto us by that mensch (person of character) Moses, prohibits murder.
2. The laws of kashrut (ritual purity of foods) prohibit the use of blood in cooking.
3. The Torah clearly states (in Leviticus) that blood from sacrifices could only be placed on the alter of the Great Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed in 70 CE.
4. Human sacrifice is one of the evils that separated the pagans of Canaan from the Hebrews. (Deut 12:31 & 2 Kings 16:3)

The origin of the blood libel lie seems to have begun with the spewings of the Greco-Egyptian, Apion, around 40 BCE. He claimed that the ‘Jews sacrificed Greek victims in their Temple’. His rants were passed on, but little action was ever taken.

The first known medieval accusation of ritual murder or blood libel, was William of Norwich (age 12), who was later made a Saint. His unexpected disappearance was pinned on the town’s Jews, but since no body was ever found, the sheriff didn’t pursue charges and even granted the Jews protection.  It is nice to know my dear ones that the mob doesn’t always rule. Unfortunately similar accusations began springing up in neighboring towns. Blood libel was to become the major theme in the persecution of European Jews.

The Middle-Ages were a frightening time, with little understanding of science and medicine, so blood libel was sometimes used to try to account for unexplained deaths and disappearances of village children. According to a very nice and learned professor, Walter Laqueur, there have been approximately 150 recorded cases of blood libel (not to mention thousands of rumors) that have lead to the arrest and killing of Jews - mostly during the Middle Ages. 

History has shown that when people feel powerless they look for scapegoats. This has lead - and continues to lead - to the persecution of minorities, be they Jews, Roma, Muslims, or even Christians.

Tanta Golda would like to counter the assertion that these were all incidents in the distant past and so the term ‘blood libel’ shouldn’t be taken so seriously by Jews anymore, that now it’s just become part of our everyday nomenclature: like that nice phrase - Indian giver.

Dateline- Yom Kippur 1928

After the disappearance of a little girl in Massana, NY, Rabbi Berel Brennglass of Congregation Adath Israel was questioned for 4 hours, while townspeople made blood libel accusations and surrounded the synagogue. The girl was found alive and well in the woods where she had gotten lost.

Dateline Spring 1986

The Syrian defense Minister, Mustafa Tlass writes a book, “The Matzaoh of Zion”. In it Tlass  claims that he has “scientific proof” that Jews living in Damascus in 1840 killed two Christians and used their blood in preparing matzoh. It is later cited (1991) at a UN conference by a Syrian delegate. In 2002 the book underwent its 8^th printing.

Dateline - January 2005

Twenty members of Russia’s Duma publicly made a blood libel claim against the Jews and called for a ban on all Jewish organizations. The movement gained momentum for a month before they were forced to retract their claim.

Dateline - Spring 2008

Copies of a poster go up in the Russian town of Novosibirsk which read, “Beware Russian parents. Keep watch over your children before the coming of April 2008, the Jewish holiday of Passover. These disgusting people still engage in ritual practice to their gods. They kidnap small children and remove some of their blood and use it to prepare their holy food (matzah).”

While the Anti-Defamation League has concluded that the swastika has become a generic symbol of hate, no longer reserved for solely anti-semites, Tanta Golda could find nothing before the brouhaha of the past month, that would indicate that blood libel has become an interchangeable term for vendetta, despite what Mrs. Palin huffs. Fie on Mrs. Palin and others for bandying about this term so casually. She may indeed have nothing to do with the horrific incident in Tucson, but she is responsible for using her words in what seemed like wonton disregard for the millions of Jews who have suffered by these very words - Blood Libel.

Our wise ancestors who wrote the Talmud knew that words, once out - like the feathers of a pillow - are hard to take back. They float about with a life of their own, they linger. 

Love - and use your words carefully - Tanta Golda

Messianic Jews

Dear Tanta Golda,

I’ve heard the term “messicanic Jew” tossed around before, but I’ve been too shy to ask what this term means. Are they Jews for Jesus, or is this something different? Can you believe in that a messiah has come and still be Jewish?
Ambiguously Perplexed

Ambiguous,

Oy, when Tanta Golda looked into this whole mishegoss (crazy, senseless behavior) well could she understand your perplexed state! After going to several sources it would seem that even within the “messianic” community there is controversy and disagreement - which does make them sound a bit Jewish, but I digress. Let me try to give you the main points.

Of course my darling I need to give you a little history first. In the early years of Christianity, one had to be, or become, Jewish - including circumcision - before one could become a follower of Christ. Saul/Paul pushed hard to end this, and by 150 CE this practice had all but died out.

The current messianic Judaism had it’s origins in the Hebrew Christian missions to the Jews in the 19^th century. It saw a revival and rapid growth beginning in the mid 1970’s- early ‘80s, which brings us to today.

Messianic Jews try to straddle the line between Judaism and Christianity. Congregations are made up of both Jews and gentiles. Neither needs to ‘convert’ to the other side. Their spiritual leaders are called rabbis, and their houses of worship synagogues. They believe that Jews are the “chosen people”. They use much of the traditional Jewish liturgy in their services, which are often conducted in Hebrew. They observe Shabbat, celebrate seven key holidays: Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Purim, and follow the explicit laws of the Torah - including circumcision and kashrut, ergo, no pork or shellfish. 

This my confused one is where the similarities to Judaism end.

They also strongly believe that Jesus - whom they call Yeshuva - was the messiah as predicted since the time of Moses. He is the word of G-d revealed to man in the flesh, born of a virgin. Yeshuva died for ‘our’ sins, and both Jews and gentiles must be cleansed of sin by the shedding of his blood. They believe that salvation comes from a good and ‘right’ relationship with G-d which can only be achieved through faith - not works of the Law. (To clarify, most Jews hold that it is our actions first and foremost that put us in G-d’s favor, though many contend that this is only possibly with faith. However, everyone is welcome in the world to come. <There are some exemptions, but that’s for another column!>) They include the New Testament in their canon, and most do not accept rabbinic law, which includes everything laid out and explained in the Mishnah and the Talmud. These texts provide the guidelines around which much of the way we practice Judaism today is framed.

Christians sometimes see this group as being part of the evangelical movement; some are critical for its aggressive proselytizing, and other see messianics as Christians misrepresenting themselves as Jews. Within the messianic movement there are those who prefer to call themselves Nazarene (named for Jesus’ presumed birthplace), and identify themselves as a sect of the Hebrew people that understand that Jesus is the prophesied redeemer of the people. Some call Jews for Jesus a branch of messianic Judaism. Tanta Golda must admit that she wasn’t able to pick up on the nuanced differences between these branches or sects.

As for your final question about remaining Jewish and believing that a messiah has already come. Judaism holds that one who is born Jewish never ceases to be a Jew, even if he or she renounces Judaism and practices another faith. Mothers are always hopeful that their children will return.

I hope I’ve cleared up some of the ambiguity for you my shy one. Best wishes for a happy New Year! TG

Hannukah Customs

My darling ketzelah, 

Soon the glow of the hannukah menorahs will light up the faces of the eager youngsters. I know that it has been close to a year since we were able to enjoy the rituals associated with this joyous holiday, and many of you have questions about the proper ways to observe. So, I thought I’d refresh your memories.

Does it matter which side we place the candles in the menorah first, and which side we light from?

Yes, tradition tells us that we add candles starting from the right, spreading our hannukiah lights to the left. However, we light the newest addition first, so we light left to right. Why? Well would you be surprised to find out that the learned rabbis had this very discussion, and that our tradition stems from the compromise they reached!

What if we need to go out in the evening, are we allowed to blow the menorah out?

Well this situation just requires a little pre-planning. Light the candles at nightfall and let them burn for a least 30 minutes. This usually is just about the natural life of most store bought Hannukah candles.

I can never remember which blessings we do which night.

My sweet darlings, on the first night of Hannukah we say three blessings. On the other seven nights we say two. 

The blessing over the candles: Baruch ata Adonai Elohanu melech ha’olam asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu l’chad’lich ner shel Hannukah. (On Friday we will say shel Shabbat v’yom tov or shel Shabbat v’Hannukah.) (Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the lights of Chanukkah.)

Second blessing: Baruch ata Adonai Elohanu melech ha’olam she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim haheim baziman hazeh. (….Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time)

And, on the first joyful night, we add the Shehecheyanu: Baruch ata Adonai Elohanu melech ha’olam shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. (who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.)

My mom says that gelt alone is all I should get for Hannukah, but all my friends get eight gifts!

Bubbalah, the only requirement on Hannukah is the lighting of the candles, the gift of light during a dark time. At some point it became tradition to give the little ones gelt, not the chocolate kind, but the spending kind. However, this was still just a token gift back in a time when kids didn’t often get spending money from their parents. It is only since your parents were kinder that the custom of giving toys and such, making Hannukah more like Christmas, arose. It should be noted that it is unusual to give Hannukah gifts to non-family members. You should listen to your mother.

Why do we have a ninth candle if Hannukah is celebrated for eight days? Why add a Shamas?

Ah, good question! The Hannukah candles are meant solely for pleasure, we are not allowed to use them for any productive work such as lighting another fire or to read by. For this reason the ninth candle was added. This has spared many matches and fingers.

When I was a kid we ate latkes during Hannukah, recently I’ve noticed that we’ve started eating jelly doughnuts, what’s this about?

As you may already be aware of, traditions vary according to where people come from. Most Ashkenazi Jews grew up eating latkes. However, most Sephardic, Polish and Israeli families came from parts of the world where potatoes weren’t so plentiful and they traditionally eat doughnuts. Both traditions are equally valid. The point is to eat fried foods to remember that valiant vile of oil that lasted for eight days.

Well my neshomeleh, I hope I’ve answered all your holiday questions. If not, let me know and I’ll try to remember to answer them next year!

Happy Hannukah - Love Tanta Golda