Kosher Wine Tasting this Thursday, Matzo Making Next Monday

With the approach of Passover in less than two weeks, the Chabad Jewish Center in Basking Ridge will host its third annual Kosher Wine Tasting at 7 p.m. this Thursday.

There's more to kosher wine than there used to be, said Rabbi Yitzchok Moully, program director at the at Basking Ridge, at 3048 Valley Road.

"Back when we were growing up there was syrupy sweet Manischewitz wine," the rabbi said. Now, many more varieties of Kosher wine are available, he said.

The event will be presented in partnership with Royal Wine of New York, the world's biggest distributor of kosher wine, Moully said.

The wines to be offered for sampling include a wide selection with wines from a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, to Teal Lake Shiraz from Australia. "Everyone in attendance will find a wine to grace their Passover table," he said.

"Wine is to Passover what turkey is to Thanksgiving and this is the chance to get up to speed on all the great variety," Moully added.

The wine tasting is open to the general public, he said. Attendees need not be hosting or attending a  you don’t have to be a Passover seder to taste some "great" kosher
wines, he said.

Suggested donation for the event is $12 per person.

Wines are available for sale with a portion of the sales going to benefit the Chabad center. Those planning to attend are asked to respond online. 

For more information, call 908-604-8844.

Meanwhile, children at the Zimmer Preschool at the Chabad Jewish Center also are preparing for the Jewish holiday of Passover.

At 9:45 a.m. on Monday, April 11, the preschool children will be baking their own matzo, another staple of the Passover table and holiday.

The process includes grinding wheat, mixing the dough, rolling the matzo and cooking the flat bread in the oven.

Rabbi Mendy Herson, Spiritual director of the Chabad Jewish Center will be on hand to answer any questions about the matzo.