Lottsa matzoh: In search of kosher for Passover food on campus

Finding decent food in Princeton can be difficult enough without religious dietary restrictions to con-sider; being a Jewish student observing Passover compounds that challenge.

Yesterday's sun-down marked the beginning of the holiday celebrating the exodus from Egypt of the Jewish people, who left their homes so quickly that the bread they were baking did not have time to rise.

To celebrate and commemorate the event, followers of Judaism forgo all leavened foods for the eight days of Passover.

Most foods containing grains, therefore, are not kosher for Passover. The one exception is matzoh, a type of flatbread.

Passover observances are in addition to year-round kosher rules which prohibit the eating or cooking of meat and dairy products together and mandate a specific amount of time between eating the foods separately.

There are also certain animals that are not considered kosher to eat such as pigs, and animals that are considered kosher to eat must be slaughtered in a certain manner.

How, then, is it possible for students to observe Passover, much less keep kosher on a day-to-day basis, here at Princeton?

The Center for Jewish Life regularly prepares its food in a kosher manner, and during Passover, it will provide three kosher for Passover meals each day. These meals are covered by underclassman dining plans, and the CJL offers discounted and free meals to upperclassmen for the duration of the holiday.

Outside of the CJL, Jewish students often look in supermarkets and restaurants for food marked "Kosher," and during Passover, "Kosher for Passover."

"Because Passover is an even bigger deal, people are more careful. People who don't keep kosher all year keep kosher for Passover," said Daniel Mark '03, president of the CJL. "I would check for a kosher for Passover label even for fruit and vegetable products that are reliably kosher during the rest of the year."

Though there are not many kosher options on Nassau Street, Wegman's, Shoprite, and other grocery stores on Route One offer foods marked kosher for Passover.

The CJL has also been handing out plain matzoh and selling chocolate-covered matzoh in Frist this week. A kosher for Passover study break is also planned for this Sunday evening at the CJL.

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A sample kosher for Passover meal at the CJL might include beef or chicken, assorted vegetables and potatoes. Especially during Passover, all ingredients in every food item are carefully examined to confirm that they are kosher for Passover.

Different sectors of Judaism also observe different Passover rules. For example, in some Eastern European countries, Jewish communities substituted corn flour for wheat when baking supplies were short. As a result, corn is now a part of the Passover restrictions for this Ashkenazic sector.

Coca-Cola even makes a special product for Ashkenazic Passover observers. Since the normal product contains corn syrup, a non-kosher for Passover item, Coke manufactures and labels a drink made with sugar instead.

Another part of Passover observance is that one is not even allowed to own foods that are not kosher for Passover. According to Mark, families often use this time for massive spring-cleaning, emptying pantries, and vacuuming sofas and rugs to remove the last of any crumbs.

Rabbis arrange the sale of these forbidden food items to non-Jews. Repurchase of the items by their original owners is common after the conclusion of Passover. Students can contract to these items, including alcohol that is grain-based, through the Orthodox Jewish student group, Yavneh.