As a student at one of the schools that was not off this festive week, I was left to face the challenge of observing Passover at Cornell. The most difficult challenge for me, like many, is avoiding bread products. Once a year I understand why people on carb-free diets are so miserable. Later in this article I want to express my disappointment towards Cornell dining, for I believe there are simple steps the University should be taking to help students who wish to observe the holiday. First, however, I want to raise a second challenge that I faced this Passover — explaining to people what Passover is and why I insisted on eating my hamburgers without buns.

According to diversity data from the Cornell website, in 2006 16.6 percent of freshman indicated being Jewish as their religious preference. Though I am not Christian, I consider myself to have a basic knowledge and understanding of Easter. I was therefore a little surprised to discover how many non-Jewish students lack any idea of the significance and customs of Passover. Without going into too much depth, I want to provide a summary of the holiday. I hope some of those clueless students that I have encountered this past week are at least interested and willing to learn.

Passover, officially called Pesach, is observed primarily to recount the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt after generations of slavery. The name of the holiday refers to when God “passed over” the houses of the Jews as he slayed the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. On the first two nights of the holiday a Seder is held. During the Seder, Jews read from a Haggadah, a book that tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and explaining some of the practices and symbols of the holiday.

The most significant custom observed during Passover is restraining from eating leavened goods, which include anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water. Essentially, this is the practice of not eating bread. Instead, Jews eat Matzah, unleavened bread made from flour and water and cooked very quickly. The Jews who fled Egypt did not have time to allow their bread to leaven, and thus were forced to eat Matzah. Though this is not a comprehensive explanation of the Passover holiday or its practices, it should give many a brief idea of how many Jews acted the way they did this past week and why.

The challenge of spreading awareness and understanding of Passover is, and should be, outside of the University’s control. However, ensuring that those who do follow and practice Passover are able to do so reasonably is a duty of the University. Before I express my criticisms, I would like to commend one aspect of how the school enabled students to observe Passover. On the first night of the holiday, I attended the “Super Seder,” which I consider a large success. The Super Seder allowed individuals to practice the holiday in varying levels of religious intensity, in an environment that was overall welcoming. I was impressed with how my Passover experience began here at Cornell. However, continued observation of the holiday, specifically the practice of not eating bread and any leavened products, was made especially difficult by Cornell Dining.

Normally, there are two dining Halls that allow students to keep kosher — 104 West and a portion of Appel Commons. It is important to note, however, that many Jewish students keep that do not normally keep kosher otherwise, do so for Passover. I was perplexed to discover that the kosher section of Apel is “closed for Passover.” I simply cannot understand why Cornell Dining would chose to close the kosher section when demand is greatest. Every dining hall on Campus had an extremely small section of kosher food, including Matzah and one or two other items. This is simply inadequate when it comes to providing students with reasonable means of observing the holiday. It is both impractical and wistful to believe that all students who want to keep kosher for Passover, especially freshman, will be able to eat all of their meals at 104 West.

It likely does not occur to those who do not observe the holiday how few options at the dining hall contain wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt. Everything from rice to pasta to anything breaded (such as chicken, eggplant, veal, etc.) to cereal is forbidden on Passover. This significantly limits the available options at the dining hall. I am thoroughly tired of eating eggs and salad with grilled chicken.

I understand that the overwhelming majority of students at Cornell do not observe the Passover holiday. However, I do believe the University has an obligation to take minor steps to make it more realistic for those who wish to successfully do so. Just as the dining halls have recently been serving a fish dish every Friday for Lent, they should serve one main dish that is not leavened each day of week during Passover. I do not consider myself very religious. However, I try — though have admittedly failed — to keep kosher for Passover. It would be much appreciated if Cornell Dining made more of an effort to make the process less painful.