Passover: That’s why spring cleaning is preached every year – culture

The week-long Passover festival begins on Monday. Religious Jews are now in the home stretch of spring cleaning. Because everything has to be clean by Passover.

The liberal Jew Ora Mendelberg cleans the house and stove for three weeks. This is also called “doing Passover,” which figuratively means: “getting to the bottom of something.” Schmadar Heid from Basel does the same. In total, she invests a week of work.

Spring cleaning de luxe

Not just the kitchen, but the entire apartment, all boxes and drawers now have to be cleaned of leftover bread or grain. They are not allowed on Passover.

It happens like this: The Bible tells how the departure from Egypt happened. In the rush there was no time to let the bread dough rise. The flatbreads were baked without sourdough.

To remember this, leavened bread must not be consumed during Passover. Instead, there are crispbread-like “matzo” and dishes made from matzo flour, such as matzo porridge or fine broth with matzo balls.

What are matzos?

Open the box
Close the box

Legend:

IMAGO / Shotshop

Matzo, matzah, matzah or Hebrew matzah – they play a starring role on the festive Passover table. The unleavened bread is a reminder of the hasty departure and liberation “from the house of slavery” in Egypt.

Kosher matzo is made in special matzo bakeries. The last matzo bakery in Switzerland in Lengnau was demolished in 2013.

Matzos are usually large squares with regular holes. Special kosher production before Passover is overseen by the Rabbinate.

On the festive table, three somewhat thicker and special matzot lie one above the other, with a cloth in between each: They symbolize the three “estates” in Judaism: the Kohanim (temple priests), the Levites (temple servants) and the people of Israel. Everyone now has to eat a piece of each of the three matzos.

Fun for the kids: On the first evening of Passover, the Seder (“order”), a piece of matzo is hidden in the apartment. The children now have to find this so-called Afikoman again.

Every crumb has to come out

The special kosher Passover needs to be well prepared, says Smadar Heid, who runs a kosher catering business. She thoroughly removes all “chametz”. This means everything that is forbidden during Passover week: grain, yeast, and therefore also beer or whiskey – everything that has fermented or could ferment. Every “grain” and “crumb” has to go out of the household.

Traditional Jewish women even symbolically “sell” their chametz. The Orthodox-run community IGB in Basel organizes this. This means that you don’t have to throw away non-kosher items during Passover week, but can leave the chametz somewhere else. Christian neighbors who are friends also help.

The liberal Jewish community of Migwan in Basel also takes the kosher rules for Passover very seriously. Community member Ora Mendelberg says: “For example, the cutlery. This has to be boiled at 100 degrees until the water forms bubbles, then you can take it out again. During Passover, we use special cutlery and dishes in the community. Everything else is cleared out of the kitchen and the drawers are sealed. And the surfaces in the kitchen were covered with foil.”

Why this effort? Why this meticulousness? Orah Mendelberg doesn’t understand my question: “Everything simply has to be germ-free and clean.” There are definitely hygienic reasons for this, says nursing specialist Mendelberg. But actually it is simply a religious tradition and obligation.

Escaping the stress of Passover

If all of this is too complicated for you, you might like to travel during Passover. Then kosher hotels take care of the Passover cleaning. This is normally high season in Israel for Jewish tourists from all over the world. Part-time chef Smadar Heid also appreciates the greater culinary diversity in Israel during Passover.

Legend:

Well equipped: Cleaning in the hotel kitchens is a little easier than at home.

IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

However, the situation in Israel is currently so critical that many people are not flying there. Neither does Smadar Heid. But she doesn’t let the anticipation of Passover get away from her and takes on the Passover cleaning with enthusiasm: “I usually clean with music. With music everything is much, much easier and more relaxed and beautiful.”

Maybe next year again in Jerusalem. Because this is what people wish for at Passover and toast: “Next year in Jerusalem!”