The Passover Word

Tonight at sundown begins the Jewish holiday of Passover, Pesach, the Festival of Unleavened Bread. It celebrates the Israelites liberation from Egypt and the Covenant delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. And even though Jews are forbidden from eating leavened breads during the 8-day holiday, it is a joyous occasion (and my weekly frustrations will only be expressed through the phrase, "Boy, is it hot in this desert!").

Here I have compiled a few of the interesting Passover stories from around the world for those interested. For whatever reason, Passover always seems to come coupled with some interesting news stories. Enjoy:

LA Daily News: Read about Yaakov Horowitz, the chief rabbi at Manishewitz, the worlwide leader in matzo production for the holiday. The article focuses a bit on the history of the company too, as it prepares to move its ovens from a historic location in Jersey City, NJ, to a state-of-the-art facility in Newark. Yes, rabbis can do things described as state-of-the-art.

New York Post: Here's something even non-Jews can enjoy! Read about the production of kosher for Passover Coca-Cola. Since Coke started using corn syrup instead of sugar in the 1980s, only the kosher for Passover Coke is made from the true original recipe. If you are looking for bottles, the kosher for Passover Coke has a special yellow cap.

Miami Herald: Read about the history of Jewish wine and get a list of recommended wines that are kosher for Passover and taste much less like Welch's grape juice than Manishewitz.

Jewish Press: Find out about all the promotional Passover specials at Parrot Jungle Island in Miami and Boomers amusement park in Dania, FL, including free-play arcade games!

Chicago Tribune: This column from the Chicago Tribune talks about how strict Jews manage the start of the baseball season, the NCAA finals and Passover, all on the same night!

Boston Globe: The Green Leaf party, an Israeli pro-marijuana group, has declared that pot is not kosher for Passover, much to the dismay of Israeli potheads. Sorry, but I guess you'll just have to save your matzo-meal bong for another day.

NY Journal News: A rabbi in Spring Valley, NY has been baking matzo out of an oven-converted bus in his back yard. Authorities have told him he must shut down his operation because he illegally attached a gas line to fuel the ovens. In this article from today, it sounds as though he will be baking off despite the ban.

The Post Chronicle: This piece has some religious background on a planned lamb sacrifice a group of modern Sanhedrin's are planning to perform on the Temple in Jerusalem and the controversy surrounding it (though an Israeli court has already put the kaybash on the plan). Ha'aretz has more of the legal background on the case.

Cleveland Plain Dealer: If you are interested in knowing what Passover is like for Jewish prisoners in America, the Cleveland Plain Dealer has the scoop. Or if you are just shocked that Jewish prisoners are so sentimental...

Sydney Morning Herald: This story follows the vandalism of several tombstones in Jewish areas of northern France on the eve of Passover.

Israel National News: Here is a letter from the mother of Ehud Goldwasser, the Israeli soldier still being held by Hezbollah militants, on the eve of Passover. It is a very touching exchange from a mother to her son, and an insightful deliberation on the meaning of the holiday.