Hole Truth
Date: April 10, 2009 Section: News
By Alan H. Feiler
Justin Tsucalas photographer
The event's title, albeit a bit cumbersome, said it all -- "How Do They Get Those Holes in There, Anyway? Matzoh Making Workshop."
The April 1 gathering was held at the Jewish Museum of Maryland in East Baltimore and was co-sponsored by the JMMand Chabad of Downtown Baltimore. Approximately 80 people attended the nine-hour event over the course of the day. Dozens of youngsters -- from Yeshivat Rambam, a day care program, home-schooled students and others -- participated in a hands-on demonstration of a model matzoh factory set up at the museum. The matzoh produced at the event was not used on Passover. Kosher-for-Passover matzoh must be manufactured in a highly controlled environment to guarantee it does not become leavened.
Facilitated by Rabbi Levi Druk, director of Chabad of Downtown Baltimore, the event encouraged children to simulate the process of matzoh manufacturing -- grinding flour, kneading dough and baking the matzoh -- all in 18 minutes. Samples were provided afterward.
At the program, according to Deborah Cardin, the JMM's education director, facilitators expressed a special correlation to the Lloyd Street Synagogue, which is adjacent to the museum. In the 1920s and 1930s, the historic synagogue was the headquarters for a small matzoh factory, she said.
Of the workshop, Ms. Cardin said, "It was fun to interact with the different groups and see how they enjoyed the process and rolled up their sleeves and got a little dirty.
We're very grateful to Chabad of Downtown Baltimore for doing this workshop for the second year in a row and we hope it will be a regular tradition."
