The clue is before and after:
R_N_ER R_CK LE_VENE_ BRE_ _.
“I’d like to buy an A, Liz”
Very well: RAN_ER R_CK LEAV_NE_ BREA_
Any guesses?
“I’d like to solve the puzzle, Liz! ‘Ranger Rick Leavened Bread’?”
You got it!
This is pertinent, I promise:
Ranger Rick is a children’s wildlife magazine, and today is Earth Day.
Rick Levin is Yale’s president. We go to Yale.
And leavened bread is the no-no of Passover, which begins tomorrow night.
Thus, with this ‘before and after,’ I attempt to pull together our weekend’s festivities — both of which I will be party to — and gear up for a whole lot of earthy, unleavened fun.
While Earth Day and Passover may not appear to have much in common besides their seasonal positioning, there is a lot to be said about how these two celebrations reflect upon one another, thereby enhancing our appreciation of both observances.
For one, Passover and Earth Day both honor the idea of saving things. Earth Day calls on us to save the world from total exploitation and destruction. Passover recalls the total (yet temporary) destruction of Earth in a successful effort to save the Jews.
We’re told by Earth Day campaigners that, along with other problems, oil is killing the salmon. Which it is. But that whole water turning to blood thing must’ve been a doozie.
If Earth Day had been around when God was coming up with all of those plagues, he might have had a few angry petitions sent his way.
And speaking of water, Passover celebrates the parting of the Red Sea.
Earth Day mourns the parting of the ozone layer.
While ozone depletion releases harmful solar powers, helpful solar power can be a fantastic alternative to wasteful fuel and electricity use. The Jews used solar power to bake their bread when fleeing Egypt!
Furthermore, Jewish people celebrate Passover.
Jewish people celebrate Earth Day!
And yet another correlation: Check out the 2005 Earth Day logo at www.earthday.net. It kind of looks like it could be on the cover of a Haggadah, which is the prayer book that is used throughout the Passover Seder.
“Cedar? Like the tree?” you ask.
No silly! Seder (SAY-der), like the Passover meal. Trees are a big part of Earth Day though, so if you’re celebrating Earth Day, hug a cedar. If you’re celebrating Passover, have a Seder.
Earth Day recognizes that there are hungry people and limited resources in our world and, in turn, we need to do our best to conserve and/or sustain these resources. Likewise, please recognize that there are hungry Jews and limited boxes of matzo in your dining halls, so keep your paws off of our carbs, you scavenging gentiles.
On a serious note, please take the time this weekend to become aware of your surroundings, whether it’s by working in the Yale organic garden or learning how to pronounce the word Seder correctly. Don’t hand an environmentalist a Styrofoam cup today. You’ll look like a shmuck. And don’t bring your precious bag of Doritos near me during the coming week, or I’ll cry.
Saving the Jews and saving the Earth makes us all winners!
Liz Kinsley asks that you celebrate Earth Day not only in an effort to preserve our world, but in memory of Andrew Kroon’s admirable environmental consciousness.