First graders at the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital in Washington, D.C., had a unique and time-sensitive task at hand – making matzo for Passover. The students, donning paper hats and blue school T-shirts, were led by Rabbi Levi Raskin during their “Model Matzah Factory” field trip.
Passover, a major Jewish holiday, commemorates the exodus of ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. To keep the matzo kosher for the holiday, the students had just 18 minutes to prep and cook the unleavened bread. As soon as they mixed the flour with water, an 18-minute clock began ticking.
Raskin, director of the JCrafts Center for Jewish Life and Tradition in Rockville, Maryland, guided the children through the process, which included grinding wheat kernels, using a water well, and baking the dough in a piping hot oven. While their dough took about 2 minutes to cook, in a real matzo factory, the oven reaches 2000 degrees and bakes the matzo in seconds.
First grade teacher Dafna Kiverstein also assisted the students as they rolled out the dough and prepared it for baking. One student, Charlotte Gleicher, 7, pricked the dough with small holes and eagerly awaited her handmade matzo.
Passover generally lasts seven days in Israel and eight days elsewhere, marking a time of remembrance and celebration for the Jewish community. The students’ hands-on experience at the Model Matzah Factory provided them with a deeper understanding of the holiday’s traditions and significance.