Noah and the Ark - Totally Jewish!

Recently a friend and I were shopping at Costco and we stopped at the children's book area. We were there quite awhile and took turns showing my son different books to keep him occupied while we shopped. My friend handed him car books, then dinosaurs books, then grabbed a Noah and the ark book. Before she handed it to him though, she stopped and said, "Oh, you wouldn't be interested in this!" I knew immediately what she meant - she thought Noah was not an appropriate book for a boy being raised Jewish. I smiled and said, "Oh Noah and the ark? He's totally Jewish!"

I came home thinking about that and smiling, it is not the first time I encountered someone thinking a story they know as a Christian was not a Jewish story. When you are raised in one religion I don't think there is usually a lesson in which you learn that some religious figures are "shared" by other religions. There should be, because I think it would go a long way in helping people understand different religions. Of course, now I want to be the one to write that book, but I have a lot to learn before I can do that. Perhaps a brochure entitled, "Totally Jewish" to be given to interfaith families, to help those raised as Christians know there is a lot of shared history? Look for it at your nearest bookstore.... some day!

Shopping for Passover

As I learn more about the Jewish holidays, I have become fascinated about which stores carry which items, and, I am happy to say, that it seems as though grocery stores are beginning to carry more and more Passover and other Jewish items.

This spring I made my first trip to Kosher Mart in Rockville, Maryland to prep for Passover. Just a walk down the aisle and I started learning. I was surprised (but I guess I shouldn't have been) that many of the shelves had been "Kosher for Passover" before Passover items were placed on them. It was also interesting to see the many new (to me) food items, and even the many types of matza. there were lots of specialty food items, and Passover children's items (like the box of plagues mentioned in the last entry). I even picked up some Passover decorated kitchen towels. I know, we are probably the only Jewish household with such a thing, but its a great "crossover" item!

It may have always been the case, but I now notice many of the local grocery stores feature Passover items, even recipes, in their weekly circulars. I have a recipe for a Passover apple strudel on my "to try" list now and so much left over matza, I really need to make it soon. What, you didn't notice that Giant was selling 5-pound boxes of matza, and depending on the brand, nearly giving it away? Oh yes! I bought two boxes - that is ten pounds of matza to the chagrin of my family. I am pleased to say we used/gave away most of it.

Speaking of Giant, they now carry Hamantashen in their bakery department. I noticed it right before Passover, so I think it is a new item and not just a seasonal one.

Gesher Day Revisited

My family and I made it to Gesher Day last month, and we all had a blast. Joshua made his own matza, planted flowers to bring home for the Passover table, played Passover bingo (everyone was a winner) and did a lot of fun activities. One of my favorites was the dress-up and get your picture taken as Moses. They took pictures and immediately emailed them - ours are just precious. I now have some idea of what my son may look like as a man with a beard. As soon as he had the staff in his hand he tapped the ground, I think he may have a little shepherd in him somewhere.

It was a free event, the children got bags for their goodies and there were free snacks - a really fun event and a great way to see the school. Don't miss it next year!

A Passover...Thanksgiving

I had been looking forward to Passover for weeks, but things did not go as planned.

Each year I learn a little more about holiday traditions through family and reading, and I try to incorporate new things with each holiday. This year that included cleaning the kitchen thoroughly. I had the "how to" from a synagogue and I was amazed at how intricate and time consuming preparing for Passover can be. I think of it as spring cleaning - with a purpose! I made a list of those things that needed to have "Kosher for Passover" labels, what was OK with out labels, if purchased before Passover, and what could be purchased during Passover without labels. I am not sure I got it all right, but it was a start, and it made me think about the holiday a lot more than had I not tried any of this.

Now that my son is inching closer to his third birthday, I thought it would be the perfect time to start incorporating some child-friendly traditions into Passover as well. I was really looking forward to grandpa hiding the afikomen, for example. I was also really tempted to buy a box of plagues, but thought it might be a bit much for a not-quite-three-year-old. I also thought opening the door for Elijah would be fun for my son. We had been reading a Passover children's book to Joshua that depicted both of these activities, so I thought he would understand them, at least in part.

However, it was not to be. My son woke up that morning with a fever that medicine and a doctor visit did not help bring it down. An hour before dinner the fever spiked and we took him to the ER. We were grateful for ER departments with special children's areas and we were not there terribly long, but our dinner was cancelled. We did make it back home to my in-laws for dinner, but by that time it as late and half the family had already eaten. With so much food, we got together the next night, but did not bring out the Haggadahs.

I was disappointed, but tried to think about the meaning of freedom and what Passover means. This year for me it focused on a different kind of freedom - freedom from worry for a son so ill we had to take him to ER, not once, but twice during Passover week. As painful as it is to have a sick child, I knew that I was free from the worry that many parents face with a seriously ill child. I also felt free from serious worry over the grandparents on both sides of the family, as we have three friends who are all dealing with serious health concerns with a parent. Our time for this will come, but this year I felt grateful for having them healthy and being a part of my son's life.

So this year, Passover felt like a different kind of freedom, and most of all, a real thanksgiving.