I’ve often heard it said that it’s possible to describe all Jewish holidays in ten words or less: “They tried to kill us; we won; let’s eat!” While that may be (almost) true for some Jewish holidays, there are some that require just a bit more thought and preparation. And while the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur probably require the most spiritual preparation, there is no doubt that Passover requires the most household preparation.
As a child, I remember schlepping up and down the stairs at my Grandmother’s house changing the dishes from the year-round dishes to the Pesach dishes . . . and setting the huge, long Seder table . . . and peeling what felt like hundreds of hard-boiled eggs. Then, of course, there’s all the shopping, cooking, and cleaning–sometimes even with a candle and a feather as you look for chametz (anything with bread or leavening in it).
So, to help with your Passover preparations . . . presenting our list of 5 Passover Must-Haves:
#1–A Beautiful Seder Plate
No matter how long your Seder table, there’s no question that the centerpiece is a Seder Plate. Aside from being beautiful and functional, a Seder Plate can help you remember all the different symbolic and ritual foods you’ll need to prepare ahead of the Seder . . . bitter herb, parsley, hard-boiled egg, charoset, salt water, roasted lamb bone . . . a lot to think about!
#2–A Kiddush Cup Worthy of a Visit from Elijah
While the Seder doesn’t include spinning dreidels or dressing up in costumes, there are many highlights for kids (and kids at heart)! Of course, looking for the Afikoman ranks right up there. But for many kids, the best part is opening the door for Elijah. Tradition teaches us that Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet) comes to visit each of our Seders, and we set our Seder table with a special cup of wine for him right at the center. It’s not every day we receive a visit from a prophet, so it’s nice to welcome him with our very best. Any Kiddush Cup will do the trick, but if you really want to pull out all the stops, you can’t go wrong with a magnificent sterling silver Kiddush Cup.
#3–A Wine Good Enough to Drink 4 Cups
At the Seder we are supposed to drink four cups of wine . . . but there is no rule that it all has to be of the super-sweet “purse-your-lips” concord grape variety. (In my family, it’s tradition that the first cup is, but after that, any nice Kosher-for-Passover table wine is fair game.) In Israel, finding a really nice Kosher-for-Passover wine is no problem; but elsewhere, the choices may be somewhat more limited. Fortunately, Israel’s wine industry is growing and flourishing, and Israeli wine is ever more widely exported. Some of the larger wineries have become household names, but if you’re looking for a lovely kosher boutique wine, try Dalton Wines, direct from their winery in the Upper Galilee. (And when you come to Israel, don’t forget to visit a few of Israel’s incredible wineries.)
#4–Some Really Great Passover Recipes
Who could imagine Passover without matzah ball soup, gifilte fish, or Grandma’s chopped liver? These are, without a doubt, absolute necessities for any Seder. But what about after the Seder is over and it’s time to face a long week without bread or pasta or cereal or (fill-in-the-blank)? It’s essential to have some really great recipes to fill the gap! For breakfast, of course, there’s matzah brie. And for a really fabulous sweet treat that will make you wish it were Passover all year round, try this recipe for Chocolate Covered Matzah Buttercrunch.
And finally . . .
#5–A Great Place to Eat Once Passover has Passed Over
For the first meal after Passover, some like to incorporate as much chametz as possible. (Though you won’t find this as a rule in any rabbinic text, it does seem only fair!) Pasta is always a good choice; for many, the only acceptable option is pizza and beer. And if you’re lucky enough to be celebrating Passover in Israel, check out our very own Restaurants Category for some excellent recommendations.
So, in the end, although Passover is not all about “Let’s Eat,” eating does make its way prominently onto our list of 5 Passover Must-Haves. Well, it is a Jewish holiday, after all . . . Chag sameyach (Happy Holidays)!
This post was sponsored by World of Judaica.