Two Opportunities To Bake, And Learn About, Matzah For Passover

The Jewish holiday of Passover is approaching and Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut will be hosting its tenth annual traveling Model Matzah Bakery. Matzah is the special unleavened bread that Jews eat on Passover to commemorate the hasty departure from Egypt when there was no time to bake regular leavened bread.

Some eat matzah out of habit but lack the knowledge of how it is made or the extreme care that is necessary. The Model Matzah Bakery — modeled on an authentic shmurah, or handmade, matzah bakery — offers a firsthand exposure to the ins and outs of a matzah. Participants have an opportunity to bake their own matzah and witness the entire process. It is also an educational experience, as participants learn why and how the bread is created with only flour and water… no oil.

The uniqueness of this project is that the entire family can learn together and have fun at the same time. It makes the traditional mitzvah (precept) of matzah fresh and exciting for Jews of all ages and backgrounds.

Model Matzah Bakery will be offered on Sunday, March 25, at Litchfield County JCC, 7 Village Green Drive. This offering will begin at 10:30 am.

The second Model Matzah Bakery will be Tuesday, March 27, at Chabad Lubavitch, 81 West Main Street (second floor) in Waterbury, and will begin at 4:30 pm.

 “This is a hands-on experience that provides a real thrill and a great education,” said Rabbi Joseph I. Eisenbach, the director of Chabad Lubavitch. “Both adults and children participate and it is difficult to tell who is having more fun. For them the matzah at the Seder table will never be the same.”

Cost is $5 per baker. Each attendee will receive his/her own baker’s hat and authentic handmade shmurah matzah for the Seder.

To register call 800-297-6864 or send email to ChabadNW@aol.com.