Matzah, our baby food

As we pass the midpoint of Passover it could be some of us are tiring from our new eating habits.  One facebook update summed it up best, ’The kosher struggle is real. Passover is a difficult time for me. EVERYTHING I eat on a daily basis contains rice, wheat, flour, etc. 

I'M SO HUNGRY, HELP! ‘ Now is a good time to get another idea to carry us home.

                The reason Jews tend to go to extreme lengths in their Passover preparation is because the verse in the Torah with respect to Passover is different.  It says one shouldn’t consume even a trace amount of chometz or leaven. When it comes to most mitzvoth we determine a generous amount until one has officially transgressed the prohibition of eating non-Kosher food but not here.  Why the difference? 

                The midrash relates that the exodus from Egypt was similar to a birth from an animal.  Perhaps, the major hall mark of a new born is how sensitive their stomachs are.  They can breathe easily, see, and hear, but digestion takes time.  The first few months of feeding is no simple matter.  With my colicky second, each feeding came with a half and hour of gaseous screams.  As the baby develops, food needs to be introduced slowly to assure there are no allergic reactions. Further, it is crucial that food be soft with no peel left on the outside.   On Passover, we recreate this initial stage of life where what we eat needs to be just perfect (obviously spiritually as Matzah is anything but soft!).  Leavening is related to the evil inclination and externality- it is akin to a peel.  We need to remove all traces of leavening for a week as we relate to our deepest sense of self.  After that is established we can introduces heartier substances.  With that in mind, eat carefully as digestion takes time to develop!  

Metamorphosis

One of the most stunning processes in nature is the metamorphosis of a butterfly. An insect burrows into a cocoon for a period of time and then emerges a new creature of astounding beauty along with an entirely new power, flight. Typically, a change like that is reserved for the fantastic realm of comic books and phone booths. But, in reality, it is also the essence of seder night.  On seder night we transition from Israel the person to Israel the nation after a period of time in the cocoon of Egypt- a change of massive proportions and massive implications for world history.

 The children of Israel, aka Jacob, came down to Egypt a robust family of 70 impressive people.  They were capable of influencing a powerful empire, with one son, Joseph, climbing to the no. 2 post.  But the goal of Israel was not to influence the empire but to be a positive influence on the world and for that a nation was needed.  After Pharoh died, Israel the family lost its influence and we were off the map and in the ‘cocoon’ for a period of time as lowly slaves.   However, even as slaves, things began to change as we grew into a nation of 3 million strong within a few generations.  Despite the degrading work of slavery, the nation maintained an independent identity.  And via the plagues of Egypt and subsequent revelation at Sinai, this nation became witness to the deepest reality of the world. It is this intellectual clarity that gives us beautiful wings to fix the world.

We mark this change with matzah and questions. I’ve tried many varieties of matzah, and give or take a few millimeters of thickness they all taste like cardboard.  Bread is very different. With extra ingredients and variables of time bread rises to different levels and has many different textures and tastes.  Bread is a testament to the baker while matzah is a testament to its basic ingredients flour and water brought to you by the Creator with minimal human intervention.   We recognize that our creation as a nation is due to G-d’s influence and matzah is our testimony.  And this change should draw our curiosity. Which is why we start the night with ‘what is the difference between this night and all other nights?’  On this night we became a nation with crucial knowledge to share with the world.