A Testament to Passover

As we begin the first night of Passover, we can we learn from the Old Testament and God’s relationship with His people,Israel?

Exodus 19:1-25.

1. In the third month after they set out from Egypt, Israel reaches the desert of Sinai and camps at the foot of the mountain. Verses 1-2. It is often when we are in the harsh situations, which feel like a desert, that God meets with us.

2. Moses goes up the mountain. The Lord tells Moses exactly what he is to say to the people of Israel, verse 3. God is always clear about what He tells His people.

3. The Lord reminds Israel of his past deliverance. Not that they should really need reminding, given that it was only a short time earlier. But God knows how fickle the human heart is and how forgetful the memory. Are we any different to Israel? Too quickly we forget God’s blessings and deliverances. This is one of the reasons keeping a journal, of quiet times and prayer requests, is invaluable.

4. The Lord sets a condition to His unique and unfailing relationship with Israel. Often God’s promises of blessing come with a condition. as in Psalm 37:4. The condition in this instance is Israel’s obedience, verse 5.

5. Israel responded to God by promising they would obey His words. It is easy to promise this when it has not been tested. God knows this. He knows Israel needs to learn to trust Him in all situations. The same is true for us. We need to trust God even when circumstances appear to tell us it is foolishness.

6. The people needed to be consecrated, prepared and ready to hear from God, verses 10-13. Do you come expectantly to meet with the Lord, eager to hear what He has to say to you?

7. The Lord tests Israel’s obedience by putting limits around the mountain and limits on who is allowed closer to Him,1 verse 12, 21-24. God is very clear as to what the limits are. He gives the limits more than once and warns the people against trying to force their way through the limits God has imposed, v20.

A relationship with the Lord is a two way thing. God promises to bless His people. For our part we need to be ready and prepared to listen when He speaks, we need to obey His commands and abide by any limits He sets. As you look at your life and your current situation, how can you learn from these seven steps and incorporate them to strengthen your relationship with the Lord?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Passover preparations already in progress.For where there is Passover, can matzo be far behind. A a dry, cracker-like, bread replacement that we are forced to eat. And where there is matzo, there have been people trying desperately to make it more edible. In this case, they grind it up, add eggs and make kneidlach (dumplings).

On a very basic level, matzo ball soup is merely chicken stock, oil, eggs and broken up matzo. It’s not at all impossible to make, especially if you follow this extremely simple recipe, But what it lacks in uniqueness, it makes up for in consistency.
There are two matzo ball camps: those that like them heavy and leaden at the bottom of a bowl and those that like them light and fluffy–these are the latter, and in my mind, the better ones. If you can’t find matzo meal, pulse a few pieces of matzo in your food processor until it is a coarse powder. If you can’t find matzo, well, you obviously do not live in New York City. - But yes.. we did find it here   These would make bubbe (grandma) proud. Okay, we’re hungry. Genug shane! (Enough already!)

Matzo Ball Soup adapted from Cooks.com

Makes 8 to 12 matzo balls

Matzo Balls
1/2 cup matzo meal
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons reserved chicken fat or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chicken stock

For soup
2 to 3 quarts prepared chicken stock 1 carrot, thinly sliced
A few sprigs of dill

Mix all matzo ball ingredients in a bowl. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Bring 1 1/2 quarts of well-salted water to a brisk boil in a medium sized pot.

Reduce the flame. Run your hands under water so they are thoroughly wet. Form matzo balls by dropping spoonfuls of matzo ball batter approximately 1-inch in diameter into the palm of your wet hands and rolling them loosely into balls. Drop them into the simmering salt water one at a time. Cover the pot and cook them for 30 to 40 minutes.

About ten minutes before the matzo balls are ready, bring prepared chicken stock to a simmer with the sliced carrot in it. Ladle some soup and a couple matzo balls into each bolw and top with a couple snips of dill. Eat immediately.