Did you or your school over-buy Matza for Passover? A Moroccan Shavuot custom ripe with symbolism will help diminish the number of Matza sheets piled high in kitchen cabinets.
Once Moroccan Jews recite the Kiddush on Shavuot eve they take a few pieces of Matza that they saved from Passover and break them into small pieces. They then make a mixture of honey and milk. Immediately after, they blend the Matza pieces into the mix. Everyone gets their own portion, savoring the taste of this Shavuot treat.
You might consider this custom ‘cute’ or ‘quaint’, but let’s examine the meaning behind it in order to appreciate its true worth. Matza is our bread of affliction, representing the journey we began as a people. It also reminds us of the difficult escape we made from Egypt. The honey symbolizes the sweet feeling of being given the Torah. By receiving a code of law that we could call our own, we officially became a nation. To quote Jackie Gleason: “How Sweet It Is.” The milk is part of the Shavuot dairy tradition. Blended together, the combination of these three ingredients reminds us that Shavuot marks the conclusion of our Exodus from Egypt and the beginning of our collective, national experience.
So, if you’re looking for a creative way to get the Shavuot message across to your class, try this recipe out during snack time.
May you have a yummy and meaningful Shavuot…Tami
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