A cluster of sweetness for Pesach

Judy was in Isarel for a simcha this week, returning just in time for the climax of Pesach preparation. As a result, she’s taking a break from column-writing, and we bring you instead a replay from 2012.

By the time most of you will be reading this article, it will probably be over a cup of coffee, Shabbat morning.

For those of you who stayed home for Pesach, the last minute shopping, cleaning, cooking, serving and clearing up after the seders have taken a toll on you, I’m sure. And for those of you with young children, your fun is just about to begin: Chol ha’moed trip planning.

When I was a kid, things were different from what they are today. It was a treat just not having to get up and go to school. We didn’t lament that we were stuck home in Brooklyn while all our friends were in Miami. We looked forward to the special day trips we would take — we’d go bowling, to a show or museum in the city or a movie. I remember clearly one such chol ha’moed trip to the movies. My friends Lynn, Lisa, Henny, Fay and I all met at the bus stop, holding our bags of lunch and snacks for the day. Yes, in those days we actually took buses at age 13, and we walked about seven blocks to the bus stop (hope any teenagers reading this didn’t faint at the thought of that).

Once at the theater and comfortably settled in our seats, we opened our paper bags (no designer totes back in the day for us) and took out our snacks and lunches that we made and packed. Yes, we actually made our own matzo sandwiches and packed our snacks, too (hear that kids?).