Monday, March 29, 2010

Why is this post different from all other posts? (A Passover primer)

Seder-masochists rejoice! Your time has come. For tonight at sundown marks the beginning of Passover, a holy week where Jews gather together in a relative or friend's home each night to commemorate the Hebrews' exodus out of Egypt (or Connecticut), where they were slaves under Pharaoh (or the PTA).

Like all Jewish holidays, food and kvetching* play an extremely important role in Passover. And nowhere is this more evident than at the Passover Seder, a ritual Jewish feast where Jews gather to dine and whine (often after schlepping from miles away -- hence the term "Seder-masochist," meaning one who schleps from miles away, often in horrible weather and traffic, in order to tell their family about it over bad kosher wine).

To better explain the Passover Seder (which some of you may be more familiar with as The Last Supper), I have embedded this handy (and humorous) video, titled "The Passover Seder Symbols Song." (FYI, you don't have to be Jewish to find it funny, though it doesn't hurt.)



But wait, there's more! Thanks to my mother-in-law, who sent me the link to this video, you can now learn "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Matzo But Were Afraid to Ask," with America's favorite domestic shiksa, Martha Stewart!



(What, you don't immediately think "Martha Stewart" when you think "Passover Seder" and/or "matzo"?)

*Btw, kvetching isn't just for Jews anymore -- or the Jewish holidays. Now you can let the whole world know what is pissing you off, 24/7, thanks to Kvetch.com (and Twitter).

Wishing you a Happy (and Peaceful) Passover...

6 comments:

larissa said...

The Seder goes on
Kids end up under tables
Let my people go

Aunt Becky said...

Best. Post. Ever.

Unknown said...

18 minutes!
Who knew?
Aveesin pesach bubbalah!

J. said...

@The Daily Del Franco: You said it.

@Larissa: Ditto.

@Aunt Becky: Coming from you that is a HUGE compliment. Thank you. LOVE your blog.

@Gary: I thought the exact same thing. A good Pesach to you, too. (I am making the traditional first night meal of spaghetti and meatballs. Shhhh...)

EMM said...

Isn't there a lost I Love Lucy episode featuring Lucy & Ethel in the Matzo factory?

JWT said...

I've been invited to a Seder or two, and I have to say that the music video primer would have been very helpful.