The eight-day festival of Passover (or Pesach, pronounced pay-sak), is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays around the world. It commemorates the biblical story of Exodus, when Hebrew people were slaves to the Pharoah and Moses saved them from bondage in Egypt. To most Jews, the holiday is a celebration of freedom.
If you are Jewish, you have probably already begun preparing for Passover by cleaning and inspecting every room, and eliminating Chametz (leavened bread, including cake, cookies, pizza, pasta, and even beer) from every nook and crevice. If you aren't Jewish, take this opportunity to learn and celebrate another culture with a recipe or craft!
Matzah Chocolate Toffee Passover Candy
- 3 pieces matzah
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds
Preheat oven to 325˚F. Lay the matzah in a single layer in a greased jelly roll pan (or cookie sheet with sides). Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue boiling over medium heat for 4 minutes. Pour mixture over the matzo and bake for 8-10 minutes; remove from oven. Sprinkle chocolate chips all over the baked matzo and return to oven for 3 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with toasted nuts. Chill in the refrigerator, then take out and break up into uneven pieces. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
Editor's Note: To toast nuts, spread evenly on a cookie sheet and bake in a 300˚F oven for 8 minutes, stirring once. You can also dry-toast them in a skillet on your stovetop.
Matzah Cover
(thank you to Macaroni Kid Ottawa Capital Region for this craft)
What You Need:
- Felt or fabric
- Needle and thread (or sewing machine)
- Glitter glue or fabric paint
What You Do:
- Sew two pieces of felt or fabric on three sides, leaving the fourth open.
- Turn inside out so the seams are on the inside of the pocket.
- Use glitter glue or fabric paint to write "Matzah" or "Matzo" in English and/or Hebrew.
- Use the bag to hide the middle matzo (see below for explanation).
Children love the Passover tradition of "Hide the Matzah." In a traditional Seder (Passover meal), three whole matzah are placed on the Passover table and covered with a cloth napkin. Before the Seder begins, the middle matzo is broken in half. The smaller piece is placed back on the plate and the larger one, called the Afrikoman, is wrapped and hidden. The Seder cannot conclude until a child finds the matzo and gives it to the person leading the Seder.
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