How Students Are Keeping Kosher for Passover

By Zach Richter

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A large majority of both Syracuse freshmen and sophomores are away from home for the first time this year during Passover. However, those who usually keep kosher for Passover are faced with a challenge this year. Throughout the eight days of Passover, Jews are not supposed to eat bread, wheat, or flour. Even though there are some options on campus, some say it is not that easy.

Syracuse freshman Olivia Browndorf says she hopes to keep Passover but is not sure if she will be able to due to the limited options. “It’s definitely hard with all the options on campus. I know Hillel is offering meals but it’s just a far walk so it’s been a difficult process honestly,” added Olivia Browndorf.

Another Syracuse student, Spencer Whitnall, has had a different experience as he says that “Hillel has offered us meals and the dining halls have been doing a pretty good job. They’ve had matzah and matzah ball soup down there. So, it’s been really easy.”

Hillel is doing their part to help students keep kosher for Passover offering a wide selection of food. Throughout the eight days of holiday, they are serving lunch every day from 10 to 2 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. 

However, Noah Weiss explains that not all students are able to make the long trip to Hillel. He says, “Typically, I keep Passover at home but because of the really just limited options on campus in terms of dining and food. It’s just been too much of a challenge and I’m just not able to do that this semester.”