This is an advertisement for Manischewitz Kosher for Pesach products which was printed on April 8, 1965 in The Chicago Sentinel, a weekly newspaper serving the Jewish community. The full-page advertisement has a picture of numerous traditional Ashkenazi food products, including matzah, wine, cake mixes, canned soup, gefilte fish, matzah meal, and matzah farfel. The numbers and variety of products are intended to impress readers that Manischewitz products can provide them with all their culinary needs for the holiday. This advertisement was published in the annual Passover food guide attached to the newspaper.
Manischewitz was founded by Dov Baer Manischewitz in 1888, when he created a small matzah bakery out of the need for kosher matzah in Cincinnati, Ohio. Manischewitz was the first company to make square matzah, which was revolutionary and initially quite controversial as people were used to handmade round matzah. The company soon began producing other products such as wine (specifically sweet kiddush wine) and gefilte fish. Manischewitz products became popular not only among Jewish consumers but also among the general public. The American celebrity Sammy Davis even advertised some of their products with jingles such as this one.
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Passover (Pesach) – Pesach, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, celebrates the freedom of the Israelites from Egypt that is described in the biblical book of Exodus. A main feature of the Pesach celebration is the Seder which is conducted in the home. The text of the Seder, as written in the Haggadah, tells the story of the Exodus with the aid of symbolic foods, songs, and discussion. As a reminder of the rushed manner in which the Israelites left Egypt, matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten during Pesach and chametz (leavened bread) is removed from the home. It is traditional to clean one’s house prior to Pesach and to perform a ceremony to remove and nullify any chametz that is in one’s possession.
Kosher Food – Kosher food is food prepared according to Jewish dietary laws. The Torah provides a list of definitions for kosher animals, fish, and birds. It also prohibits eating meat and dairy products together. Jewish law also provides precise instructions on the ways to slaughter an animal and forbids eating blood and certain animal fats. Strictly observant Jews will thus only eat food that has been supervised, so as to be sure that all of these requirements have been met. There are additional laws for the festival of Pesach, referring to what can or cannot be eaten, and food that meets the requirements are designated Kosher for Pesach.
