A Passover Seder. The Leader holds up a jar of Gefilte Fish and intones: “This is the fish of affliction…”
This won’t make sense unless you’re Jewish or have attended a Seder, the ceremonial meal that kicks off Passover. The famous thing about Passover is Matzoh. When the newly-freed Israelites were fleeing Egypt, they didn’t have time to let their bread rise, so they ate it flat — that’s the secret origin of Matzoh. To commemorate this, at the Seder every year, a plate of Matzohs is lifted and the Leader says, “This is the bread of affliction.” Gefilte fish is a ground-fish preparation — kind of like a fish meatloaf — that can be eaten year round but which is associated with Passover for some reason. Many people, especially kids, would consider it “of affliction.” I love it, but I’m crazy.
Passover starts this weekend, so this is timely.
Has everyone subscribed to Mike Reiss’s Substack yet? It’s all about his crazy travel adventures. He’s only done a few posts so far, but he’s already told so many funny stories that I’m not quite sure how he can keep it going. But Mike has a lot of stories.
Today’s feature presentation: one oh three one by the redoubtable Edd Turner:
I love this. These are great cavemen. There’s a pterodactyl in the distance! And “Hunt Gather Love” is a delightful dose of chicken fat to brighten up the background. Thanks, Edd — it’s great.
Draw my cartoons. I’ll post them here.
I quite enjoyed gefilte fish at my friend's house when they hosted the Seder. They also made matzoh ball soup, so whatever suffering we experienced was hidden in-between chicken, broth and carrots.