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2 MIN READ

Time to Sort the Rice: Let the preparations for Pesach begin!

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Now that Purim is over, many individuals begin their Passover cleaning as early as today, one month before the holiday begins. It can be a meticulous period, especially if you have a large house with multiple rooms and floors. One of the most time consuming and important tasks to complete for many of the communities that I had interviewed was the process of sorting and cleaning large quantities of rice for the holiday, as it needed to last the entire week for the whole family. Some individuals even explained how it could take weeks to do, as only small portions would be sorted through each day, grain by grain, only to be sorted again two more times before being considered clean for Passover. While many may only do a good cleaning a week or just days before, I spoke to some individuals who went as far as the following in their homes:

Iran, Syria, India, Iraq: The purchasing and sorting of rice grains (this could take several weeks to do as each grain was individually checked, discarding any broken pieces or grains of wheat that might have gotten mixed in).

India: Purchasing, sorting, roasting, and grinding of fresh spices (this may have been done as early as 2 months ahead!)

Morocco: Removing the stuffing from all pillows and mattresses, washing the outside cases, then re-stuffing them with new, fresh cotton (that has been sorted for cotton seeds or bugs).

Ethiopia: Making all new ceramic dishes, bowls, cups, and even pots by hand in time for the holiday (the previous year’s dishes and pots would ALL be broken then discarded a few days before Seder).

Egypt, Morocco, Iran: Washing and painting of all the interior walls of the house.

Yemen, Egypt, Iran: Buying a young lamb and raising it on the terrace or in backyard before slaughtering it for the Passover Seder night (this might have started 2 months before).

QUESTION:
How early did your family start preparing for the holiday, and what were the first things that you would do?

Tags
cleaning
Egypt
Ethiopia
lamb
Morocco
Passover
preparations
Purim
rice
sacrifice
slaughter
sort
spring cleaning
Syria
Yemen

jenniferabadi

Something to be thankful for during Thanksgiving w Something to be thankful for during Thanksgiving weekend.

Welcome home. Bring them home. 

#passover #seder #sépharade #nourriturejuive #kascher #moyenorient #méditerranéen #toogoodtopassover #jenniferabadi #afistfuloflentils #toogoodtopassover #kosherfood #jewishfood #sephardicfood #middleeasternfood #arabicfood #conversion #syrianfood #israelifood #israel #standwithisrael #bringthemhome #neveragain #welcomehome
FOOD FIGHT!? The latest anti-Israeli petition dem FOOD FIGHT!?

The latest anti-Israeli petition demands a complete boycott of all Israeli restaurants and food labeled Israeli claiming that it is an appropriation of Palestinian cuisine and an attempt to “erase” Palestinian people. While I understand the desire to raise awareness about the foods of the Palestinian people (or any other community) we have to be careful if the means by which we learn about or appreciate one cultural heritage requires an absolute cancellation of another community in the process. 

Palestinians and Israelis, Jews and Arab Muslims, have more in common with one another genetically and historically than our differences. While cultural variations exist, the overall ingredients and techniques used to create and develop particular recipes are often more reflective of a region than a geographical border.

The biggest issue I have with this petition is not with the Palestinians but with those chefs, restaurant owners, and bakery chains who think that by signing it they are automatically elevated to a higher level of authenticity (perhaps we should start a ratings system for this?). I suggest that they be careful where they put their John Hancock because one day they might find themselves in a position of having to share the results of their 23andMe ancestry to apply for a license to prepare hummus. (And as a Jew with Syrian roots I think that my DNA should give me some right to comment.)

So—to Israeli and Jewish chefs, restaurant owners, bakers, and cooks: hang in there! There was once a time in America when only “Freedom fries” were available, and nowadays you can only find the French kind.

#syrianjewsinamerica #palestinianjews #israel #standwithisrael #kosherfood #jewishfood #jewishpride #mizrahiheritagemonth #mizrahi #toogoodtopassover #fistfuloflentils #sephardiccommunity #culturalheritage #foodheritage #israelifood
When Upper West Siders go to see the balloons. Ha When Upper West Siders go to see the balloons.

Happy Thanksgiving!

#thanksgiving #thanksgivingdayparade #newyorkcity #snoopy #balloons #traditions #americanholiday #turkey #macysparade #thankful
Are you a Mizrahi Jew? Help me to raise awarenes Are you a Mizrahi Jew? 

Help me to raise awareness about “Eastern” Jews by emailing me the following info so that I can share it on Instagram:

—A (relatively clear) photo of you or the person whom you would like me to highlight
—The person’s name
—The country that they came from
—The name of a favorite dish from this country/background (please give me official/traditional name + English translation or description)

You can email me with info and questions: Jennifer@JenniferAbadi.com

Thank you!

#syrianjewsinamerica #palestinianjews #israel #standwithisrael #kosherfood #jewishfood #jewishpride #mizrahiheritagemonth #mizrahi #toogoodtopassover #fistfuloflentils #sephardiccommunity #maghrebijews #middleeasternjews #middleeasternfood #middleeasterncuisine
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow will be 6 wee It’s hard to believe that tomorrow will be 6 weeks since the hostages were taken from Israel. The posters persist to remind us of who is still missing, while pieces of tape and ripped paper remind us of those who prefer that we forget. 

Don’t forget. Bring them home. Shabbat shalom.

“Too Good To Passover” and “A Fistful of Lentils” cookbooks available on Amazon.

#passover #seder #sépharade #nourriturejuive #kascher #moyenorient #méditerranéen #toogoodtopassover #jenniferabadi #afistfuloflentils #toogoodtopassover #kosherfood #jewishfood #sephardicfood #middleeasternfood #arabicfood #conversion #syrianfood #israelifood #israel #standwithisrael #bringthemhome #neveragain
Upper West Side, New York. Bring them home. “T Upper West Side, New York. Bring them home. 

“Too Good To Passover” and “A Fistful of Lentils” cookbooks available on Amazon.

#passover #seder #sépharade #nourriturejuive #kascher #moyenorient #méditerranéen #toogoodtopassover #jenniferabadi #afistfuloflentils #toogoodtopassover #kosherfood #jewishfood #sephardicfood #middleeasternfood #arabicfood #conversion #syrianfood israel #standwithisrael #bringthemhome
My great-grandmother was born in Hebron, Palestine My great-grandmother was born in Hebron, Palestine. She was a Palestinian Jew. A Syrian Jew. An American Jew. An Israeli. And a New Yorker. She spoke Hebrew. Arabic. And English. She was an amazing baker.

My great-grandfather was born in Aleppo, Syria. He was a Syrian Jew. An American Jew. An Israeli. And a New Yorker. He spoke and wrote in Hebrew. Arabic. And English. He was the rabbi of the Syrian-Jewish community in Brooklyn.

Please don’t tell me that as Jews they did not belong in any of these places.

#syrianjewsinamerica #palestinianjews #israel #standwithisrael #kosherfood #jewishfood #jewishpride #mizrahiheritagemonth #mizrahi #toogoodtopassover #fistfuloflentils #sephardiccommunity
Eating kosher gluten-free bagels on Halloween with Eating kosher gluten-free bagels on Halloween with my friend and colleague Joel Haber visiting from Israel.

#cookingclasses #jewishfood #kosherfood #koshercooking #upperwestsidenyc #israel #supportisrael
Smoothie bar at JCC Manhattan Fall Fun Fest social Smoothie bar at JCC Manhattan Fall Fun Fest social for BBYO teens. Sign up for my first Teens-only Cooking Social Series: Easy Fun Fad Foods!

TEENS
(5 classes):
Sept 26-Oct 24 

TWEENS
(5 classes):
Starting in November 

Go to my website for link to JCC Manhattan to register.

#cookingclassesforkids #cookingclasses #jewishfood #kosherfood #koshercooking #bbyo #teenprograms #tweenprograms #jcccommunity #upperwestsidenyc
Looking forward to 5784. Shana tova! #roshhashana Looking forward to 5784. Shana tova!

#roshhashana #5784 #shanatova #happynewyear #jewishholidays #Jewish food #challah #bread
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Jennifer Abadi | Time to Sort the Rice: Let the preparations for Pesach begin!