Benjy and the Flying Matzoh
Copyright © 2020
Every year we have our first Passover Seder with my Uncle Philip. When we read about the Jews leaving Egypt thousands of years ago, an argument always takes place. Takes place? I should say erupts. “How do we know,” says Uncle Philip, “that the Jews even were in Egypt? There is no historical evidence that they spent even one day in the desert.”
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My father explains that it doesn’t matter. “It was thousands of years ago. Either you believe it or you don’t,” he says. “Well, I don’t,” insists Uncle Philip, punching the table. “That’s okay,“ my father answers, “But there are others who do.”
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After dinner, we open the door for Elijah the Prophet, and check to see whether he has arrived to drink the wine that awaits him every year. Uncle Philip laughs. “Benjy, how do you expect Elijah to visit millions of homes at the same time? What is he, a Jewish Santa Claus?”
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Dad says, “Go open the door for Elijah. It’s a tradition, and who knows? Maybe this year he will come after all.”
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I go to open the door, expecting, well, …nothing. Sure, it would be nice to meet Elijah and ask him whether he really went to heaven in a chariot of fire. I open the door of the house and step outside. Elijah is nowhere to be found.
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But then I am struck by the strongest smell of matzo ever. I follow my nose to the back of the house. There is a giant matzo waiting there on the lawn. “Get on,” says a voice. I do.
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You may have heard of flying carpets, but this matzo is something else. It flies me not only across the ocean, but back in time as well. We land in the desert. People dressed in ancient garments are standing near a tent. Someone beckons to me and I enter.
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Moses the Prophet is sitting right there in the middle! How do I know? Well, right next to him is Aaron the high priest, wearing the sacred plate on his chest with twelve magnificent jewels.
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I have so many questions to ask. “What was the burning bush like? Did the waters of the Red Sea really part like in the movie?”
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But Moses does most of the asking. He wants to know how much longer it will take the people of Israel to reach Canaan. He tells me he isn’t sure that he will live long enough to see the day.
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I suddenly remember that the whole family is waiting for me at the Seder table. I say goodbye, scurry out of the tent, back onto the flying matzo, and we take off into the night.
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I am so excited. “Moses does exist! I saw him and Aaron, and the people of Israel in the desert! I talked to them. They did leave Egypt. It did happen. Wait till I tell Uncle Philip!”
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But then I think of what he will say. “Benjy, I see you had a glass of real wine this year instead of grape juice.
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Now tell me, what kind of flying matzo was it? Egg matzo, chocolate-covered, or regular? Oh, and how did Moses manage to speak to you in English? Perhaps you just dozed off, dear nephew.”
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I walk back into the house and close the door. “What took you so long? Did you see Elijah?”, my father asks, smiling.
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“No, Dad, it was Moses and Aaron. Just Moses and Aaron. “
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When I woke up the next morning, I was sure it had been a dream. Travel back in time? Yeah, sure. I ran out to check the back lawn. There were no matzo crumbs. But there was still the smell of matzo. Do you think….?
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Published: Apr 5, 2020
Latest Revision: Apr 5, 2020
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Copyright © 2020
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