They say you’re not supposed to go supermarket shopping on an empty stomach – you’re likely to buy stuff you don’t need because you’re hungry. But “they” have never gone supermarket shopping in Israel on a Thursday night; anyone who does learns very quickly that it’s kedai to come hungry!
Borekas, pasta, yogurt, pretzels, humus, newfangled juice drinks – that was just a partial list of the offerings available for sampling by customers in the super-mega-club-deal market we went to the other day. The sample stands inside the market are staffed …

A sideways glance. A stifled cough. A “harrumph.” On their own, they mean nothing. But when they come from your in-laws – while they’re eating the food you’ve slaved for days to prepare – well, that’s something else altogether. Not that they would ever actually say anything – but we know what they mean! This time, there’s no way out. The creative ideas you’ve come up with in the past – a picnic, fancy restaurants, a barbecue, – won’t work this time. It’s the seder, and these people are …