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Conservative Judaism/Alcohol during Passover (?)

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Expert: - 4/10/2006


Question
Dear Rabbi -
Thank you for taking the time to read my email! I belong to a "Gourmet Club" in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our mandate is to understand the world through cuisine. My upcomming hosting is shortly after the completion of Passover (It will be April 22), and I am going to host a "passover style" meal. I nor any of my guests are Jewish. I want to start the dinner off with an alcoholic beverage or cocktail. Is there anything that you can recommend for me? I have all ready acquired wine to go with the supper that is approved for passover. I noticed one of your responses was for a "plum brandy" but I'm just a little confused about what would be permissable to serve.
Thank you for your time - Fred Gordon, Toronto, Ontario.

Answer
Dear Fred,

Interesting question. Thanks.

Plum brandy is available and is marked on the label - Kosher for Passover. Powerful, smooth and good.

Secondly, we have potato vodka which is slight different from the more traditional grain alcohol vodkas.

Thirdly, there are outstanding albeit expensive kosher for Passover brandies.

Toronto has a wonderful Jewish community and I can't imagine that there is not a Jewish vendor, either a Jewish bookstore or winestore.

Good luck and bon appetite.

Rabbi Dov

Conservative Judaism

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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

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Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.

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I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)

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