Virtual Passover Discussion Question: Basics and Extras

Four Foods

What are your basics in your life? What are your extras?

Matzo is a very simple food. The word “matzo” in Hebrew means to “drain out”. Food at its most basic. Only flour and water, oil and salt. Let’s compare the ingredients used to make matzo with those used to make 3 other traditional Jewish foods Hamataschen, Sufgonyot, and Challah.

As you can see, matzo is made from only the most basic ingredients. From this baseline, extras can be added transforming these simple ingredients into many extraordinary dishes. While these extras can be nice, they are not essential. As the story of Exodus teaches us, with only the basic ingredients matzo was able to keep the children of Israel alive while they were fleeing slavery. Eating matzo makes us think about the basics in life. What do you really need to live your life?

Kids & Adults: What do you really need in your life? What do you really need to live your life?

Kids & Adults: What are the basics in your life? What are your extras?

Matzo Stack

Matzo Ingredients
Flour
Water
Oil
Salt

Challah

Challah Ingredients
Flour
Water
Oil
Salt

Yeast
Honey
Eggs

Sufganiyot

Sufganiyot Ingredients
Flour
Water
Oil
Salt

Yeast
Sugar
Eggs
Butter
Jelly

Hamantaschen

Hamantashen Ingredients
Flour
Water
Oil
Salt

Sugar
Eggs
Wine
Vanilla extract
Almond extract
Baking powder
Jelly

 

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