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Friday March 23, 2007

Shorts: Passover Food

Hide the afikomen in style

Hiding — and finding — the afikomen is always a highlight of the Passover seder.

But another nice aspect of the tradition is having an attractive cover for the matzah. And, in case you don’t have such a thing, one local Judaica artist has come up with some options.

Myra Kaplan of Oakland creates hand-sewn, hand-stenciled afikomen covers out of Italian silk. Inscribed with the words “The time of singing is here” from “Song of Songs,” the covers come in a rose or pomegranate design, or can be custom-ordered. A cover can be purchased individually or as a set with a matching matzah bag.

Kaplan is a longtime Judaica artist who formerly concentrated on ceramics. She designed a menorah for the Jewish Museum in New York, led Bay Area workshops and had a studio/shop in San Francisco before moving to the East Bay years ago. Kaplan worked for seven years at Afikomen Judaica in Berkeley.

Last fall, she decided to branch out in a different direction.

“I moved into textiles, beginning with challah covers for Rosh Hashanah,” she explained. “I feel like I’ve found myself again [as an artist].”

Her work is available at some Bay Area Judaica shops, or can be purchased directly from the artist. Kaplan can be reached at (510) 531-4371 or at myrask@sbcglobal.net.

JFCS asks community for Passover mitzvah

The S.F.-based Jewish Family & Children’s Services is encouraging the community to make a mitzvah this Passover and help fill a “seder sack.”

A cash donation, which can be made in memory of a loved one, helps the agency purchase Passover foods and deliver them to homebound seniors, people with disabilities, new émigrés and families in crisis.

The cost is $18 to fill one “seder sack.” Donations must be made by March 27. For more information, visit www.jfcs.org.

E. Bay federation to deliver meals

The Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay’s annual Passover meal delivery will take place Sunday, April 1. Volunteers will gather at the Berkeley and Walnut Creek offices beginning at 1 p.m. to assemble the meals for evening delivery.

This year, the federation expects to deliver 130 meals to homebound seniors and people with disabilities in the East Bay.

Help Dream House — eat chocolate

Treat yourself — and help others — through chocolate. From now through Passover, 15 percent of all online purchases at made online through the Charles Chocolates Web site (www.charleschocolates.com) or at the new Charles Chocolates store at 629 Hollis St. in Emeryville, will help JFCS’ Dream House.

Dream House is a transitional housing program in San Francisco that serves women and children fleeing domestic violence and abusive situations. Dream House helps struggling women avoid homelessness, gain job skills and establish independence.

As a Jewish home, it provides an ideal way for Jewish women and their children to reconnect to their holidays, heritage and culture.

Those purchasing online should enter the code jfcs. Visitors to the store should mention JFCS when making a purchase.

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