Passover, one of the most widely celebrated of all Jewish holidays, commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in ancient Egypt. The rituals and customs of this holiday connect to freedom and renewal.
The Passover meal is called a Seder. During the Seder, families read from the Haggadah, a book that retells the story of Passover. The story is also remembered through foods on the Seder table, including maror (bitter herbs), representing the bitterness of life in slavery; charoset, a sweet brown paste often made of ground fruit and nuts, representing the mortar used by Jewish slaves to build structures in Egypt; and karpas, a non-bitter vegetable that is dipped in salt water to remember the tears of the ancient Israelites. You can read more about Passover at My Jewish Learning.
The Seder is not just a meal, it’s an event! People at the Seder are encouraged to do more than just read from the Haggadah; it is part of the tradition — and the fun — to ask questions and add your own commentary.
On Passover, special food is eaten to remember that the Jews had to leave Egypt so quickly that there wasn’t time for their bread to rise. Add a little sweetness to your child’s Passover celebration with this simple recipe for flourless Passover Coconut Cookies!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 cups finely shredded coconut
- whites of 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- up to half a cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Drop batter by heaping spoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet (or on a sheet of baking paper).
- Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden brown.
Makes 15 cookies.