Matza: A Passover Tradition

As a Christian living in Israel, I was curious about Passover – The Feast of Unleavened Bread. For weeks, months even, before the Jewish Pesach (Passover) I was warned from anybody and everybody that there were no bread products to be found at all during that time. “Buy it now and freeze it,” my acquaintances would advise. More surprising, I was also informed by Passover veterans that things like toothpaste and beer would be unavailable for purchase. Some merchants simply cover the forbidden food and refuse to sell it. Other merchants close their stores before the holiday begins, completely clean the premises to free it of leavened crumbs and remove all non-kosher Passover items from the store. I was intrigued…what would they eat instead? Enter matza; but first a little history.

Passover, also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is a 7 day observance of the Exodus from Egypt after the Jews had been enslaved there for many years. Passover is a time to remember the “passing over” of the Jewish households when all first born sons in Egypt were killed. I attended an Easter/Passover celebration sponsored by the International Wives Club (IWC). It was while I was sitting on someone’s back terrace, sipping champagne, and listening to our hostess describe a traditional Passover seder meal that I was thunderstruck to realize that when Jesus broke bread at his Last Supper, it wasn’t with the crusty loaf of bread we always ate during our Protestant communion. Christ, being Jewish and celebrating Passover, would have been eating unleavened bread.

A guest speaker (a Messianic Jew) that spoke at the church I attended in Israel this past spring drew some connections to the appearance of matza and the suffering of Christ. Matza is pierced throughout the flat dough to prevent any rising (think saltine cracker again.) This piercing is a reminder of how Christ was pierced on the cross. There are brown dark spots on the matza that appear while baking. These dark spots remind Christians of the bruises on Christ’s body which he endured while being beaten.

Matza is an unleavened bread product that Jewish people eat during Passover. Machine made matza is light and crispy; similar in taste and texture to an unsalted saltine cracker. We spotted children at the park eating matza sandwich style with Nutella spread in the middle. Others spread a layer of jelly on the top and ate it cracker style. Matza for Passover seder is made only from flour and water. During the rest of the week egg matza made with juice and eggs is permitted in most houses. Different varieties can be found in the markets during the Passover season such as onion flavored, matza made with fruit juice instead of water, and matza made from oat flour. When making matza, bakers must quickly mix the water and flour and bake the dough before any leavening takes place. Matza can be crushed into a flour meal that can be quite versatile in baking and cooking.

The last piece of matza is called the afikoman (dessert,) and the seder meal cannot come to an end until the afikoman is eaten. A piece of matza is broken and put aside to be eaten as dessert and the end of the Seder meal. Since this traditional meal lasts for a long time many Jewish families will hide the afikoman as a way to help keep children focused, involved and interested during the long Seder meal. The children are often given a prize for finding the afikoman . In some households, this tradition is reversed with the children hiding the afikoman and the adults have to search for it. After an unsuccessful attempt, the children ransom the afikoman for prizes.

There are some different explanations about the meaning of matza. Historically, Passover is a remembrance of the exodus from Egypt. In the book of Exodus, the Bible explains to us how the Israelites left Egypt so quickly that there was no time to wait for the bread dough to rise. The unleavened product they ate was matza. Symbolically, matza represents redemption and freedom. However, it is also called lechem oni , (poor man's bread) and serves in this was as a reminder to not forget what life was like in servitude in addition to remembering the virtue of humility. Eating the "bread of affliction" is both a lesson in humility and an appreciation of freedom. In addition, matza brings to mind the manna that God sent to feed the hungry Jews while the wandered in the desert. Some people also believe that matza has come to replace the traditional Passover offering that was made before the destruction of the first Temple.

Matzo (matza) Ball Soup

1 cup matza meal

2 large eggs, beaten

½ cup club soda

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

1 T vegetable oil

8 cups water

1/8 teaspoon salt

6 cups chicken broth

1 cup peas

¾ c sliced carrot

½ cup sliced parsnip

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Matzo Balls – Combine first 5 ingredients in a food processer and blend for 20 seconds. Add the oil and pulse for 10 seconds. Place mixture in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Boil the water with 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Shape matzo mixture into 1 inch balls. Add the balls one at a time and cover pot. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes or until balls are cooked through.

Soup – Simmer chicken broth, peas, carrots, and parsnip in a large saucepan for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the matzo balls and drop gently into soup. Heat for 5 minutes and stir in parsley before serving. Makes 8 servings.