Pre Pesach and Pesach Customs :)

(Here we made a science expirement to see the difference of the Mazta dough and the challa dough. The matza dough will not rise if started and completed with in 18 minutes while challa dough will rise since there is yeast inside of it.)

When the Jewish people left Mitzrayim they were in a rush. The dough they were preparing to  make laffas from for their travel didnt have time to rise and so it couldnt get baked. Instead, they took the raw dough, put them into sacks, through them over thier shoulders, and began their journey out of Mitzrayim.

The sun was beating down strongly on the nice April day. The heat of the sun baked the dough into flat laffa crackers which we call matza.

Today we eat matza on Pesach instead bread to remeber this detail in the story. However, the reason for eating matza and no bread on Pesach has a bigger significance.

Matza is flat and simple while Challa/ bread dough rises from the yeast it has in it.

Mazta teaches us to be humble even with all the talents and abilities we have. So for eight days we try not to eat bread and eat matza instead while thinking of ways to inprove our humility.

Kosher for Pesach matza is made from begining to end within 18 minutes. If the timing goes over 18 minutes it is considered Chometz and cannot be eaten.

Since we try not to eat Chometz which is any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives, which has leavened (risen) we spring clean our house from any such food. We either close it up until after Pesach or we completely get rid of them.

 

(Alec is searching for Chometz and the 10 peices of bread using a spoon, feather, and bag)

The night before Pesach we wrap 10 little peices of bread and put them in different places in one room. We then walk around looking for those peices using a candle, feather, and spoon scooping up those peices into a bag and any extra traces of Chometz that may have been left behind. :) We seal the bag securely so there wont be any fall aways.

In the morning we bring this bag of Chometz to the shul to get burned. We say a brocha telling Hashem that we are giving up our Chometz and if any Chometz may be found in our house over Pesach it should be considered as though it doesnt belong to us.

 

Any food with the label reading Kosher for Pesach or kosher signs ending with a P is edible for Pesach. Enjoy!!