Growing up very Orthodox in Brooklyn conjures up many warm memories. Passover afforded me many memories - all of them happy.

One such memory is when, as the Holiday drew near, the Jewish hood went through a metamorphosis.

I distinctly remember Orthodox men, women and children scurrying around the neighborhood clearing out  the grocery stores of cleaning products used to cleanse the occupants' house. The law requires that each residence be sparkling clean from top to bottom to the extent that not one crumb or morsel of bread be found.  And, Heaven forbid, if one is discovered on the night before Pesach, we had to go into action as no one wanted the home and all its occupants to be tarnished.....Forever!

The call went out for a feather to sweep up the wayward crumb into a dustpan and take it out to the backyard, light a match and burn the offensive piece of leavened bread so that it never again would be able to desecrate anyone else's Jewish home on the eve of Passover.

The strange thing is, there was always a crumb around after thoroughly sweeping the carpets. I never understood how we overlooked it!

I suspect my father placed it there when my brother and I weren't looking as to emphasize the importance of a bread free house. He was funny that way.

Happy Passover, everybody

 

Why:    Tradition!