Children make matzah at pre-Passover event

More than 60 children and their parents learned how to make matzah on Monday evening at the Rancho Bernardo Albertsons.

The free event, co-hosted by the store and Chabad of Poway, was designed to give children a hands-on pre-Passover experience.

Matzah is a thin, crisp unleavened bread that Jews traditionally eat during Passover, which begins at sundown on Friday and continues through nightfall on April 30. On Monday they made shmurah matzah, which means it was handmade, not manufactured, matzah.

Passover commemorates the exodus of Jews from Egypt. Chabad of Poway’s plans to celebrate Passover include two festive seder dinners on Friday and Saturday. For details and to RSVP, go to chabadpoway.com or call 858-451-0455.

As for matzah, there is a specific way to make it since the dough must be baked before it has a chance to rise. Therefore, the process must be completed within 18 minutes, said Rabbi Mendel Goldstein.

During the Model Matzah Bakery set up in the store, the children re-enacted the process of manufacturing matzah by separating wheat kernels from the husk, grinding them into flour, kneading dough, rolling then adding holes and baking the matzah.

Goldstein said eating matzah is one of Passover’s most fundamental observances since it commemorates the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt. They did not have enough time for their dough to rise, hence the unleavened matzah.

“The Matzah Bakery provides children with a very fun experience, but also helps develop a profound appreciation for the holiday,” he said. “Today, more than ever, parents appreciate opportunities like this to share their Jewish heritage and tradition with the next generation.”

The Model Matzah Bakery is part of a global Passover campaign that started in 1954 with the shmurah matzah initiative to create awareness and promote the holiday’s observance. This year’s celebration is more significant because it is the year of Hakhel, a once-every-seven-years opportunity to celebrate Jewish unity and learning, he said.

While Chabad of Poway holds such events for children at its facilities, putting on the event at a grocery store was also significant, said senior Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein.

“It lets the masses learn about Passover and gives the children the feeling that in a public arena they can feel free to practice (their religion),” he said.

“This is about freedom and enjoying their liberties ... they should do it and be proud of it,” Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein said. “For us, it is an amazing concept to bring Judaism to the outside (world). We can feel secure and feel proud of it.”

“We accomplished our goal,” Rabbi Mendel Goldstein said. “The point was to educate, but more to be proud that we can be Jewish and celebrate in the middle of a supermarket.”

He added that it emphasizes that in this country there is freedom to practice religion, rather than freedom from religion.

“Passover is not simply a celebration of the historic liberation of an ancient people,” Rabbi Mendel Goldstein said. “Passover is about our own personal liberation — physically, emotionally and spiritually. Passover inspires us to break free from the shackles restraining us from reaching new heights in our lives, relationships and connection with God.”

Daryl Foster, store director of the Rancho Bernardo Albertsons, said he met with one of the rabbis a couple weeks before the store’s recent opening to see how it can better serve the area’s Jewish community.

“We have a very high demographic here and so, a very large Passover section, the largest in San Diego,” Foster said.

The store provided treats for the children after the event, in addition to the grape juice — another significant component — and items needed to create matzah.

“It was super fun,” said 6-year-old Ally Germain.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Meir Rubenfeld, 12. “It was fun and interactive. ... You have (make matzah) really fast.”

Jacob Manowitz, 11, said this was his first time making matzah. “It was cool,” he said.