Jewish Passover

So tonight sees the end of Passover, the Jewish festival. The Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew started on sundown, Friday April 3^rd 2015 and ends at sundown, Saturday April 11^th 2015. During this eight-day festival, Jewish people remember how Moses freed Israelites who were enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaohs over 3000 years ago.

The story according to the Book of Exodus, sees Moses call the Pharaoh to free the Israelites or Egypt would be hit by terrible plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, blight of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the death of every first-born male in Egypt.

After the plagues the Pharaoh gave in and ordered Moses and the Israelites to flee Egypt. Of the many parts to the full story one is that they left in such a hurry their bread did not have time to rise and so this is why unleavened bread is eaten during this festival.

Why Passover. The story tells of God warning Moses that to protect their own first-born sons they re to mark their doors with the blood of lambs. This was to be the sign for God to ‘pass-over’ their homes and spare them from this plague.

My family and I are not Jewish however for myself in the Army I have found myself cater for all forms of religious festivals and I believe that it is important to read about them and have an understanding as to why they happen and the depths and lengths they go to, to pay their respects.

To mark the end of the festival I cooked this beef brisket, which was a delightful dish that brought wonderful flavours, simplicity and an opportunity to carry out other daily tasks you may have for the day.

This was served with a thyme boulangere potato and some roasted root vegetables.