Think about a world the place matzah is smuggled every spring like a sacred, forbidden deal with. Not medieval Spain, however as just lately because the Eighties within the Soviet Union.
Annually, whereas our pals dyed eggs and baked Easter desserts, our grandparents would slip into an unmarked home carrying a pillowcase and a suitcase. Inside — brittle, crumbly, toasty items of our heritage and identification. Rationed among the many Jews of Bryansk, Russia, the place we had been born and raised, this was our small, secret style of Passover. A far cry from a Seder, or any actual Passover ritual, however at the least one thing Soviet Jews may savor in non-public.
Now, many years later, we rejoice Passover in abundance — with pals, household, kids, colleagues, and even strangers. However yearly, as we retell the story of our Exodus, from Egypt AND from Russia, we additionally inform the story of the plaid suitcase and the pillowcase stuffed with matzah. It has turn out to be our private Passover custom. Nowadays, we skip the stealth and go straight to Costco — no suitcase required.
Whereas most of our pals can’t stand matzah (“It’s dry! It’s carb-y! It’s flavorless!”) and eat the naked minimal, in our home, two containers are not often sufficient. Not like many, we don’t gown it up — no matzah brei, no matzah crack, no matzah cake, no matzah-pizza, not even matzah arayes.
We wait all yr for the easy pleasure of matzah as it’s — crisp, plain, good. Our favourite solution to eat it? With somewhat salted butter, alongside a robust, darkish tea with lemon. If we’re feeling fancy, we’ll add a soft-boiled egg for breakfast and even swap the English muffin in eggs Benedict. Eggs Moshe, maybe?
One other household favourite is “Matzah Cereal” — crumbled matzah, chilly milk of alternative, and contemporary fruit. The crunch, the flavour, the style of freedom. This yr in South Florida, subsequent yr in Jerusalem!
Yum.
Olga Zelzburg Alterman is a devoted Jewish nonprofit skilled with almost twenty years of expertise in Jewish schooling, institutional development, and main presents fundraising. She has labored with various communities to construct relationships, develop impactful applications, and encourage significant giving. Captivated with Jewish schooling and social justice, Olga strives to attach people and communities with alternatives to make a distinction and assist the sustainability of Jewish nonprofits.
Igor Alterman was appointed President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Seashore County in Feb. 2025 the place he leads a dynamic group that serves because the central deal with for Jewish life within the larger Boca Raton, Florida space.
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