Learning by Doing in Andover

By Yadira Betances, Eagle Tribune

ANDOVER — By mixing water with flour, 55 children learned the ancient art of baking matzo as their ancestors did thousands of years ago.

Matzo is the unleavened bread Jews eat during the festival of Passover, to recall when their ancestors left Egypt in such a hurry their bread did not have time to rise.

Passover begins at sundown April 8 and lasts for eight days. During the holy days, Jews host a Seder, a special ceremonial dinner revolving around the story of Exodus, explaining the symbols and customs that mark the celebration of freedom. Along with matzo, they drink four cups of wine or grape juice.

It took the children 18 minutes to make matzo and several minutes to make juice, by squeezing grapes.

“It’s important to get them involved when they are young,” said Rabbi Osher Bronstein, spiritual leader of Chabad. “Once children do something, they’ll never forget.”