Different Than Other Nights

Both dad and mom also are employed Passover. Having fish and fruit deliv-
— Reuzen recruits for automotive in- ered to her home cuts down on her shop-
dustry suppliers and Marcy sells ma- ping time. But not much.
"Standing in the checkout line at
ternity clothes and art — and they
needed to devote time to those jobs dur- Farmer Jack is a part of Passover," Mrs.
Millman said. "And, yes, so are the high
ing the past couple months.
"We're always busy, so finding the prices. I'd say our food bill goes up 50 to
time to clean is no big deal," said Mr.
Millman, a native of Norwalk, Conn.
"Going from 0 to 135 miles-per-hour is
tough, but it's nothing to go from 120 to
135 miles-per-hour.
"Cleaning our home is a labor of love.
I want to emphasize that. It's time well-
consumed. We have been chosen to do
this, and it's an honor and a privilege to
do it. Because we do clean, it makes our
Marcy Millman
seders that much more enjoyable.
"To me, what's great about Passover
is the tradition. Jews have been cele-
brating this holiday for 3,500 years. Two 60 percent for Passover and it probably
thousand years ago in Babylon, some will be higher as our family grows.
"It's not a problem, though. You know
ancestor of the Millman family was get-
ting ready for Passover by doing the you need to have the extra money to
spend on food, so you find it. That's all
same things we're doing."
An additional benefit of cleaning, Mr. there is to it."
Mr. Millman's favorite Passover food
Millman said, is the education and fun
is matzah balls. Mrs. Millman
it provides for his children. It
has made the seders more Left: Marcy Millman likes matzah lasagna and cakes.
"Not maror! Matzah!" Chaim
meaningful for them, too, he helps Chaim and
said
with a quick wince and big
said.
Shoshana c lean a toy
smile when his father asked
Mrs. Millman, a South- table.
about his favorite Passover food.
field-Lathrup High School
Shoshana agreed with her
graduate, says it takes about Below: Reu zen
two to three hours for her to Millman cle ans with brother's answer:
"Matzah!" she yelled. 0
do the grocery shopping for Shoshana a nd

"Standing in the
checkout line at Farmer
Jack is a part of
Passover."

Labor of Love

For the Millman family, getting rid
of the chametz in their home is hard work,
fun and educational.

STEVE STEIN STAFF WRITER PHOTOS BY BILL GEMMELL

man race, we can't stop eating," Mr.
Millman said. "You can't clean your
kitchen two months before Passover.
You'll miss out on too many good things
to eat."
To rid the kitchen of chametz, fami-
Passover?
"We start the day after Passover ends lies must substitute everyday dishes and
the previous year," Reuzen Millman said utensils with those used only on
Passover and thoroughly clean the stove,
with a hearty laugh.
"In reality, about two months," Mar- sink, microwave, refrigerator, freezer,
cy Millman said. "It's a time-consuming cupboards, closets, tables and counters.
This year, some the Millmans' clean-
project, so we try to do a little each day
until the last three weeks, when we have ing schedule was affected by the needs
of the newest member of their family, 3-
a schedule. We go room to room."
For obvious reasons, Mr. Millman month-old daughter Miriam. Reuzen
said, the last room to be done is the and Marcy, who are Orthodox Jews, also
have a son Chaim, 3, and another
kitchen.
"Because we're members of the hu- daughter, Shoshana, 2.

H

ow long does it take the
Millman family to get rid
of the chametz, products
with leaven, and prepare
their Oak Park home for

Chaim.