Celebrate Pesach with us

Charles Flum, President

Pesach is just around the corner. Time for matzah, gefilte fish, four cups of wine and more at our Sedarim. Speaking of Sedarim, Naples Jewish Congregation is holding a community Seder at Cypress Woods Country Club at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Rabbi Herman will conduct the Seder. If you would like to attend, go to NaplesJewishCongregation.org, scroll down a bit and click on “Annual Passover Seder” Click the link to pay. Tickets are only $60 per person. Checks are acceptable if mailed by April 1. Click the link to pay by credit card. The deadline is April 6, so get your reservation in right away. Pesach is a time when freedom is in the forefront of our thoughts. May all the hostages be freed. May people everywhere have the freedom to live healthy and productive lives.

I would like to invite you to any of our services. The schedule can be found at the website mentioned above. Every (and I am not exaggerating) guest has said that we are a very warm and welcoming congregation. Come and experience our hamishness for yourself.

Interesting facts about Pesach

According to the Talmud, matzah must be made from one of five grains — wheat, barley, spelt, oats or rye. Otherwise, they cannot be used during the holiday. These grains ferment when water is added, since leavening is forbidden. Rambam added rice because he said rice putrefies when water is added, so there is no leaven. However, Ashkenazi Jews do not follow Rambam in this case. Sephardic Jews follow Joseph Caro, a Sephardic Jew, who said rice and legumes are okay on Pesach.

For Ashkenazi Jews, peanut oil is allowed, but peanuts are not. Peanuts might be made into flour and due to confusion, may be used, as legumes are not allowed. Peanut oil is okay as it is pressed out of peanuts and there is no possibility of flour in its making.

Liquors made out of the five grains are forbidden on Pesach. However, alcohol made out of other ingredients, such as vodka, are permissible.

Originally, Pesach was two holidays. Chag HaPesach (Festival of the Paschal Lamb) is older than Chag Hamatzot. After the Exodus, which also occurred in the spring, the two holidays were merged onto Pesach.

Lastly, a Pesach joke

A Jewish airplane manufacturer conceived of a new plane. However, when they took it out for its first trial, the wings fell off. Back to the drawing board. The second attempt went the same as the first, the wings fell off. So did the third. The airplane manufacturer was beside himself.

One day he was talking with his rabbi and told him about his problem. “Put holes all along the wing next to the fuselage,” the rabbi advised. “How will that help?” asked the manufacturer. “Have you ever seen a piece of matzah break along the holes?” asked the rabbi.

Hope everyone has a zissen Pesach.