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Ruth Stroud's avatar

Guilt is a quintessential Jewish emotion (though I know it afflicts other faiths as well!). Even by feeling conflicted about your choices, you’re carrying on a tradition with which I am all too familiar! Chag sameach! Hope you have an enjoyable Pesach with or without matzah, though I completely disagree with you on the tastelessness of matzah—I love it topped with a lot of things you might not eat, like butter, cheese, cream cheese, but also jam, peanut butter, avocado and pizza toppings.

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kay(la) kaplan's avatar

thank you ruth, chag sameach! i all love all of the toppings you mentioned and am so glad you enjoy it, i just would 10 times out of 10 choose those toppings on anything other than matzah 🤣

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Jeffrey's avatar

Wow, incredibly well written!

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kay(la) kaplan's avatar

i think i found my words 💜

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Mom's avatar

Kayla this is a tremendously powerful piece. I am totally alone this holiday and feeling quite sad about it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I love you with all my heart and soul. ❤️

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Francene Dell's avatar

This article completely resonates with me. I have experienced the weirdness, and also sadness for me, of no longer keeping Passover. For many years, I hosted a yearly Seder for my entire family. I followed all the Passover traditions and preparations. Then, after my parents died, and our family fell apart somehow, I stopped. It’s hard to explain the myriad of feelings in me that occur with every major Jewish holiday all these years later. My saving grace is that today I am equally, if not more, Jewish than ever. It’s still rooted in my body and soul. Even if I no longer keep Pesach. Thank you for sharing this article.💙✡️🔯

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kay(la) kaplan's avatar

i’m so glad you connected with it, thank you for sharing about your family and experience🤍

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Ruth Stroud's avatar

Ah well, I have always loved matzah, but I only eat it at Passover when it is at its freshest. I also associate it with a holiday that has a lot of happy memories for me, with food being a large part of it. Guess that’s just me, and I totally respect where you’re coming from.

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