Saturday is Passover, or what we lapsed Catholics call, Jewish Easter.
My friend Max, is preparing for her Seder (Passover ceremonial dinner), like nobody’s business starting with matzoh, the Jimmy Cagney of breads, tart but tasty from an old world, orthodox Brooklyn bakery…gilfilte fish pate, leek and potato soup, roasted chicken with rosemary in a honey glaze, balsamic mixed vegetable pie, wild mushrooms (kinda like Max) and almonds in a simmering veal sauce, apple kugel and homemade macaroons, sponge cake with fresh strawberries topped with vanilla ice-cream for dessert, with a wine list that would curl your hair.
I told her she should sell tickets.
She kindly invited me, but did her the favor by saying no. Would you want Helen Keller at your table? What…what…WHAT??? Trust me, you would not. But I did say I was open for leftovers.
I don’t only long to be Jewish because of the food, though Max is very Italian the way she cooks, just with a mezuzah outside her door, but for their passionate commitment. You see it in families as they stroll in their Saturday best up the avenue. Shabbats, celebrated on Saturday, is their Sunday they relish as a true day of reverence and rest. Christians, on the other hand, approach all Sundays and holidays like a job, attending mass because they should. Cooking for others because it’s expected. I know, I used to be one.
Jews appear to have more genetic joy, and that’s what I’m after.
Could it be their history that makes them so? I know what you’re thinking…what could trump the crucifixion? Not sure, but every time I see the script at the top of Park Avenue Synagogue that reads:
IN MEMORY OF THE ONE MILLION CHILDREN WHO PERISHED IN THE HOLOCAUST…
I fold my holy cards.
I was in love with a Jewish man who, despite his guitar and tattoos, observed all rituals. Not what you’d expect from a rock in roller, but this is what I’ve learned. To be born Jewish is to be as they say, one of God’s chosen people.
As he’d say the prayers, his head bowed, I too wanted to be chosen, by him mostly…
but alas, I was only the designated Shiksa sitting at the table. 
SB
Can you sign up for the food, without also committing to, their imaginary friend is better than anyone elses? If so, count me in.
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The menu is pretty awesome. She’s like a four star restaurant.
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…and the actress in you just wants to star in that four star restaurant? 😉
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Actually I’d be happy with the dessert menu.
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MAZEL TOV!
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To you too Jack..:)
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An Italian college friend invited my roommate and me to his Chicago home for Thanksgiving one year, since it was too far and expensive for us to fly home. I never saw such a spread of food. I was already stuffed from the appetizers! My roommate (Irish) and I (Polish/English) vowed to marry an Italian someday!
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Max isn’t Italian, but you’d never know it. She rivals my mother in the kitchen who could have fed Sing Sing on any given day. I don’t know where the….53 appetizers come from, but you’re right. Who needs anything else after that.
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When that same roommate and I used to out to eat, we’d order a couple of appetizers and spumoni, no main course.
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That sounds right up my culinary alley Skinny. 🙂
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I worked at a law firm for years, so of course I was in the presence of jews. I must say the food was spectacular and everything stopped in observance of the holidays or holy days.
I’m laughing at the word Shiksa. One of the older attorney’s always used it in reference to yours truly, who had NO clue what it meant and Google was not yet invented. It was a good month before I asked…lol
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That what we are pal…Italian Shiksas. Hey, we come with our own recipes.
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You wouldn’t have to eat for a week after that spread. Hoping there are leftovers in your future Susannah! 😉 ~Elle
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I did put my order in. 🙂
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Very cute !
I use to celebrate now I’m a heathen !
Hope your well
Hal
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Yeah, but I’ll just bet Kate cooks.
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We are going to a Seder at our friend’s house on Sunday. There will be 30 people there but unlike your friend, the food will be the worst. Perhaps because it’s a “mixed marriage” and the wife is Catholic or she just doesn’t have cooking skills (I think it’s the latter because even the picnics there are scary). However, the fellowship will be wonderful.
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Eat before you go, and drink while you’re there 🙂
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Exactly what we do! It used to be that the desserts (which everyone else brings) were wonderful but then…maybe it’s an aging group or maybe people figure if she doesn’t care why should they…people started bringing cheap crap for dessert. Now I go with my little bottled Jose Cuervo margaritas and I’m happy as a lamb.
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You are so smart…must get it from Morgan 🙂
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She’s my advisor on all things social.
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Too had she couldn’t consult with Trump. He could use a few tips.
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Why don’t you choose Judaism? Convert?
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Too much trouble. Like the idea of it, and the customs are so beautiful.
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Yea- I do think there is a gap between liking and choosing. My fiancé is Jewish which is why I am on way to conversion and I definitely am in the process of figuring out “which of the things I like can I say is mine question”…
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Like I said, the Hebrew customs are so, so lovely. Dipping apples in honey for a sweet year, leaving a stone on a grave to show you were there. I happily was given a mezuzah as a gift for my new place and I can’t tell you how much I love seeing it whenever I go in or out.
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Oh awesome. Yes I love that there are meaningful rituals that speak to us as humans, and that there is a lot of focus on the present. We don’t have a mezuzah yet, probably will get one once we get married next year!
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The interesting thing…my neighbor who gave it to me, also put it up so she read a prayer in Hebrew. She then read the English translation, and it was so universal, all I thought was, everyone should have a mezuzah. The shiksa speaks. 🙂
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Oh cool!! So I wrote this article about the terms shiksa along with how Korean girl dating a foreigner is viewed on my blog. Conversion process has been a lesson in multicultural perspectives!
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I admire the fact you are willing to convert for someone you love. I would do as well. I would. That would make the difference. 🙂
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Thank you!!
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You’re most welcome.
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