Editing Passover (section)

==Chol HaMoed: The intermediate days of Passover==
In [[Israel]], Passover lasts for seven days with the first and last days being major [[Jewish holidays]]. In [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] and [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] communities, no work is performed on those days, with most of the rules relating to the observances of [[Shabbat]] being applied.<ref name="chabad1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1000452/jewish/Chol-Hamoed.htm |title=Chol Hamoed – the "Intermediate" Festival Days – Sukkot & Simchat Torah |access-date=April 6, 2020 |archive-date=April 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406195150/https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1000452/jewish/Chol-Hamoed.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Outside Israel, in [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] and [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] communities, the holiday lasts for eight days with the first two days and last two days being major holidays. In the intermediate days necessary work can be performed. [[Reform Judaism]] observes Passover over seven days, with the first and last days being major holidays.

Like the holiday of [[Sukkot]], the intermediary days of Passover are known as [[Chol HaMoed]] (festival weekdays) and are imbued with a semi-festive status. It is a time for family outings and picnic lunches of matzah, hardboiled eggs, fruits and vegetables, and Passover treats such as [[macaroon]]s and homemade candies.<ref name="chabad1"/>

Passover cake recipes call for [[potato starch]] or Passover cake flour made from finely granulated matzah instead of regular flour, and a large amount of eggs to achieve fluffiness. Cookie recipes use [[matzah farfel]] (broken bits of matzah) or ground nuts as the base. For families with [[Eastern Europe]]an backgrounds, [[borsht]], a soup made with [[beet]]s, is a Passover tradition.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Perfect Borscht|url=https://forward.com/food/134439/the-perfect-borscht/|access-date=February 25, 2021|website=The Forward|date=January 5, 2011 |archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406195147/https://forward.com/food/134439/the-perfect-borscht/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Wonder Pot cake.jpg|150px|thumb|A Passover brownie cake baked in a [[Wonder Pot]]]]
While kosher for Passover packaged goods are available in stores, some families opt to cook everything from scratch during Passover week. In [[Israel]], families that do not [[kashrut|kasher]] their ovens can bake cakes, casseroles, and even meat<ref>"Roast in the Wonder Pot", ''The Kosher For Pesach Cookbook'' (1978). Jerusalem: Yeshivat Aish HaTorah Women's Organization, p.&nbsp;58.</ref> on the [[kitchen stove|stovetop]] in a [[Wonder Pot]], an Israeli invention consisting of three parts: an [[aluminium]] pot shaped like a [[Bundt cake|Bundt pan]], a hooded cover perforated with venting holes, and a thick, round, metal disc with a center hole which is placed between the Wonder Pot and the flame to disperse heat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://israelity.com/tag/the-wonder-pot/ |title=Nostalgia Sunday |last=Neiman |first=Rachel |access-date=April 1, 2010 |date=June 15, 2008 |publisher=21c Israelity blog |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427032748/http://israelity.com/tag/the-wonder-pot/ |archive-date=April 27, 2011 }}</ref>