a goyische pesach
I'm exhausted just reading mamadeb's description of the preparation of the house for Passover; that's something I don't have, the kind of faith that compels a person to that sort of ... well, sadly, the only word I can think of is "slavishness," but I don't mean it the way I think that would sound to me if I were hearing it. I admire that level of dedication, and I know I don't have what it takes to maintain it. I can't even remember to take my vitamins every day.
At my house, now, the preparations are far less exciting. In the refrigerator (same contents as always) I have briskets, potatoes, carrots, eggs, parsley, a lamb shank, apples; on the counter (same contents as always) I have walnuts, cinnamon, horseradish, canned soup, matzo, wine. I made matzo balls last night. I'm going to go home around 2:00, meet my brother and his girlfriend, and start cooking. My guests will be a variety of co-workers and old friends -- my brother is as Jewish as I am, which is to say not, but he may be a little less jewish (if you allow me to preserve the distinction); one friend is Jewish on her mother's side, but doesn't practice, and I believe considers herself jewish like me; another friend had one Jewish grandfather, if I'm not mistaken; and one co-worker nearly converted to Judaism many years ago. Otherwise, we've got a table full of various Protestants.
The big excitement for the day was trying to think of a dessert that had no dairy and no leavening. It was a challenge. Now we know why there are so many coconut macaroons at seders. :-)
At my house, now, the preparations are far less exciting. In the refrigerator (same contents as always) I have briskets, potatoes, carrots, eggs, parsley, a lamb shank, apples; on the counter (same contents as always) I have walnuts, cinnamon, horseradish, canned soup, matzo, wine. I made matzo balls last night. I'm going to go home around 2:00, meet my brother and his girlfriend, and start cooking. My guests will be a variety of co-workers and old friends -- my brother is as Jewish as I am, which is to say not, but he may be a little less jewish (if you allow me to preserve the distinction); one friend is Jewish on her mother's side, but doesn't practice, and I believe considers herself jewish like me; another friend had one Jewish grandfather, if I'm not mistaken; and one co-worker nearly converted to Judaism many years ago. Otherwise, we've got a table full of various Protestants.
The big excitement for the day was trying to think of a dessert that had no dairy and no leavening. It was a challenge. Now we know why there are so many coconut macaroons at seders. :-)