"This is so stupid!  Why can't I eat bread?"  My 14-year-old is arguing with me for the hundredth time this week.  

"It's Passover and we're Jewish,"  I reply.  "It's just what we do."

"But why?!  It's the dumbest thing!"

"We sacrifice to remember and honor our ancestors who suffered and fought to preserve the Jewish people," I explain.

"So, what does that have to do with me?" he snaps.

"By not eating bread, you're becoming a better person, humbling yourself by giving something up," I say.

"But our ancestors suffered so that the people who came after them wouldn't have to!" he retorts.

"Hmmm. . . .good point," I mumble, biting my lip.

"How is it helping the Jewish People if I don't eat bread?" he quickly adds.

"You may not be specifically helping the Jewish People right now, but by keeping the tradition alive, you're playing a part in keeping the religion alive," I say.  

"All of my friends eat bread this week!" chimes in my 8-year-old daughter.  "When Hayley's mom picked us up from gymnastics she said her dad just got fresh bagels--it's not fair!"

"You know who I bet kept Passover, who would be so grateful to you for doing it," I say gently to my daughter, putting my hands softly on her shoulders.  "Anne Frank."  Her eyes stare blankly at me.

"When I have kids I'm definitely letting them eat bread during Passover," my son threatens, as he opens the refrigerator and stares at a chicken leg, a bowl of hard boiled eggs,  a plastic container of broccoli, and bags of left-over kugel from the Seders.  "There's nothing to eat!"  

"You guys are such babies!"  My 11-year-old son exclaims.  He is spreading peanut butter and nutella on a big piece of matzah.  "Just shut up and deal with it!" 

"You'll see," I say, "you'll feel so good about your accomplishment when the week is over.  It's good to learn how to sacrifice.  If you don't, you can't ever truly understand love and family and selflessness."

"Whatever," my first-born answers.  "I still don't get why we have to suffer."

"Suffer?!" I laugh.  "You live in a comfortable house, with a cozy bed, warm clothes, and all the food you can eat.  None of us has ever truly had to suffer the way our ancestors did."

"I suffer," he argues.  "My cell phone was stolen from my gym locker and you didn't get me a new one for two whole weeks!" 

I take a big bite of my matzah, savoring the loud crunching sound that fills my ears.