Passover.Blog

The Passover mavens that revolutionized our Seders with the best-selling 30minute-Seder Haggadah, are at it again with the release of a new cookbook titled, “Kosher-Style Passover Cooking Made Simple.” As the title suggests, these Passover recipes are indeed simple, making it easy to create mouth-watering iconic Passover dishes that will impress and satisfy even the most discerning palates.

What makes this new cookbook so unique?  Unlike cookbooks that are crammed full of recipes, this 32 page dynamo contains only the recipes you need for a complete Seder dinner including the Seder plate. With world class photographs of every dish, they  somehow even managed to make chopped liver look delectable! And the matzah brei?  It never looked this good!  There’s even a colorful new twist on the traditional charoset recipe.

“Another feature you don’t see in most recipe books that I absolutely love”, says Dottie Abromowitz, “is the fact that they’ve coordinated all of the recipes to serve 6, making it a breeze to plan your Seder shopping list.”

And the price is very appealing. For just $4.95 you get starter, main, side, and sweet dessert recipes.  The “Magic Macaroon” recipe alone is worth the price of admission!  There’s even suggestions on how to make the recipes lactose and gluten-free. If you’re looking for a strict Orthodox kosher cookbook then this clearly is not for you. But if you are like most modern reform or conservative Jewish families, then we suggest giving this a try. If you’re uncertain about the “Kosher-style” reference, just think Jewish deli!

To check out their delicious “Tropical” Matzah Brei recipe, and to order this cookbook go to: www.30minuteSeder.com

These guys aren’t kidding when they say that Kosher-style Passover Cooking Made Simple
is, “Your survival guide to a delicious Passover!”

30 Minute Seder is working on a new Passover cookbook for Seder beginners.  We’ll have simple, easy to make recipes guaranteed to provide a complete delicious Seder dinner.  In typical 30 Minute Seder tradition, we’ll keep it fun, easy to follow, and provide recipes for the traditional foods most of us grew up with.  Look for it on www.30minuteseder.com in March.  Have a favorite, easy recipe for Passover you’d like to share?  Send it on over and we’ll publish it on our blog.  Maybe we’ll even use it in our cookbook! (with your permission, of course)

Kosherfest 2010 will be at the Meadowlands Convention Center in Secaucus , NJ on 10/26 and 10/27.  Come visit us in Booth# 540.

There’s a new vodka in town and it’s certified Kosher for Passover!  Of course it’s kosher the rest of the year too, but here at 30minute-Seder™ the rest of the year doesn’t count!

So how do they make it Kosher for Passover?  They make it from distilled sugar cane.  No chametz!  Global Drinks Finland, a Finnish alcoholic beverages manufacturer, has proven that you don’t need chametz to make great vodka. Sugar-cane vodkas are relatively rare on the market, so this one’s a real treat and they’ve got several notable awards to prove it.  It comes in a high quality frosted crystal bottle decorated with 24 karat gold and an illustration of Moses parting the Red Sea making it a great gift or fun accent for your table.  Sorry, no fair using it at the Seder, you’ll just have to sneak a nip before your guests arrive!  Contact the distributor, Happy Spirits, in Brooklyn at 718.972.0505 or “Google” Moses Vodka to find out where to buy some.

30minute-Seder supports the Jewish Women International’s National Library Initiative
Thank you so much to 30 Minute Seder for its contribution to Jewish Women International’s National Library Initiative. JWI is committed to creating 100 brand-new children’s libraries in battered women’s shelters and crisis centers across the United States. Your contribution helps make this ambitious goal a reality. Our goal is attainable and in sight because of support from contributors like 30miute-Seder.

Your gift to JWl’s National Library Initiative will be felt by so many women and their children who are living in this shelter. Your contribution funds JWI’s commitment to put, creating much needed “safe havens” for these children. Each of these libraries is a warm and welcoming environment for children whose lives are overturned by violence -promoting literacy, generating comfort and instilling hope in wounded hearts .

This article appeared in the Spring 2010 issue of JWI’s Jewish Woman magazine, which by the way, is an excellent publication for contemporary Jewish women.

Imagine this scenario: It’s two hours before Passover begins and 30 guests are coming for Seder, yet you realize you have only a few Haggadahs on hand, most of which are falling apart or aren’t a good fit for the diverse crowd you’re expecting. Don’t wring your hands or abandon the apples you’re chopping for charoset to rush out to Barnes & Noble. Go to www.30minuteseder.com and, for $16.95 and a few minutes of your time, download the 30 Minute Seder™ and print as many copies as you need.

“In the months before Passover, most of our sales are for the full-color booklet format, available online and in bookstores, which sells for $5.95. But when it gets closer to Passover, the sales shift to the downloaded version,” says former educator Bob Kopman of Scottsdale, Ariz., who developed the 30 Minute Seder. “By the day before Passover, we get a download ‘order a minute.”

So what is the 30 Minute Seder? Kopman says he got tired of slogging through lengthy Seders where the children fidgeted and guests kept asking, “When do we eat?” So four years ago, he decided to write a meaningful Haggadah that would combine brevity with tradition. Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, spiritual leader of Temple Chai in Phoenix and the first female rabbi to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. military, reviewed and edited the text. Kopman’s business partner, a graphic artist, provided colorful illustrations.

The Haggadah includes the essential prayers in English and Hebrew with transliteration and concise, compelling text for all the key elements. Favorite Seder songs are also included, with more available on the website. Because many Seders peter out after the meal, the 30 Minute Seder is designed to end before dinner begins; an innovation that many families will applaud. Also, Gender-neutral language is used throughout.

More than 100,000 copies have been sold, and the Seder has been used with Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative and interfaith audiences. Large-print and Braille editions are available, and members of the armed forces can download the Seder for free. 30 Minute Seder also offers items designed to engage children, including Seder table place cards and Passover place mats that the kids can color.

Visit www.30minuteSeder.com to learn more.

Light the way

Bo, Exodus 10:1-13:16

Rabbi Sadie Reuben

“No person could see his brother, nor could any person rise from his place, or three days; but for the children of Israel, there was light in all their dwellings” (Exodus 10:23).Darkness, the ninth of the 10 plagues, discussed in this week’s parsha, was not just a plague of physical darkness, but one of spiritual darkness as well. In addition to the physical darkness imposed by God, the Egyptian people fashioned a self-imposed darkness created by their lack of belief and faith in God.Rabbi Nehemiah taught that the darkness, which spread over all of Egypt, originated in the regions of geheinom (purgatory). The Chasidic masters explain that this type of darkness was both a physical and spiritual darkness, a curtain that hid God’s presence. It was, in other words, a lack of physical light and a curtain that concealed God’s light, God’s presence. I would submit that the spiritual darkness is far more serious than the physical.The plague of darkness did not affect the Jewish people. Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin offered his interpretation that within every Jew is a ray of light, a ray of light that is brightened by God’s presence. This spiritual light lives within a person and not within one’s dwelling. Therefore, although one’s environment may conceal the physical light within, if a person retains faith in God, the spiritual light will not be extinguished.Furthermore, our rabbis teach that our internal light is brightened by the mitzvot (commandments) that we perform, the acts of kindness that we do. By acting justly and participating in tikkun olam, repairing the world, we have the opportunity to share our personal light with all of humanity.Rabbi David Wolpe tells a story about a man who once stood before God; his heart was breaking from the pain and injustice of the world. He was angry at God. He shook his fists at God. He said, “God, look at all the suffering, the anguish and the distress in your world. Why don’t you send help?” And God responded, “I did send help – I sent you.”The defining characteristic of greatness is the willingness to intercede when one witnesses the difficulties faced by others. Individuals who accomplish this are historically judged to be great. The book of Shemot, Exodus, begins our journey with Moses. Moses is considered our greatest leader because he did not sit by passively in the presence of evil. He did not justify inaction with the claim that it was none of his business. He intervened and did whatever he could because he understood that all men are responsible one for another. In essence, Moses shared his spiritual light with the Hebrews at a time when they experienced spiritual darkness.We can learn from Moses and follow in his footsteps and respond to the human needs of the horrible disaster in Haiti. As Rabbi Tarfon said, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” Tikkun olam, repairing the world, is our mission.Yours are the hands of God. Yours are the eyes of God. Yours is the heart of God. And yours is the light of God. As Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin said, “Every Jew is a ray of light.” In other words, as Jews, we have a duty to do all we can, whether by donations or by other actions, to help relieve the suffering in places such as Haiti or Darfur. This is a reminder that we count, and that we can bring light to a dark place.Whenever a dark cloud metaphorically covers our world, it is imperative for us to find the light within us in order to spread this light to humanity.

Rabbi Sadie Reuben is the spiritual leader of Temple Havurat Emet in Sun Lakes.

Order by phone now available along with improved customer service support line. 

30minute-Seder has improved and expanded its customer service to include phone orders and technical assistance.  And it’s located in the US!  Now customers can place orders toll free by phone by calling 877.363.6967.  Our operators are standing by to take your order M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm EST.  And of course, you can still order online 24/7 on 30minuteSeder.com. 

 Need help with your download?  Check out our new and improved FAQ/ support section.  Rather talk to a support specialist?  Call our toll free customer service line and just say, “Help!!”  It’s available order M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm EST.

RAVSAK, the organization for Jewish day schools, is having their first ever unified conference in January and 30minute-Seder™ has been invited to lend support to this very important, ground-breaking event.  “Education funding of all types has become hard to come by due to the current economic climate.  It is our privilege to help the teachers of these wonderful schools by providing a fun, educational activity for their younger students”, says Rob Kopman, Publisher of 30minute-Seder™. 

To help sponsor the conference, 30minute-Seder™ will be donating downloads of our Chanukah and Passover coloring placemats.  All teachers attending the conference will be given special access to go online and download any of our placemats and print them out in-house.  For Chanukah, there are 6 different pictures to color including a “make your own dreidle” kit.  For Passover, there are 6 different pictures to color including our favorite- Let My People Go! depicting Moses leading the Jewish slaves to freedom.    Read the rest of this entry →