Burning the chometz in Woodmere

Five Towns residents brought their chometz — food items not kosher for Passover — to the annual Woodmere Fire Department burning on Friday morning just before the eight-day holiday began that night on April 3.
Passover celebrates the liberation of the ancient Hebrews who were enslaved under Egyptian rule for more than 200 years.
Men, women and children placed the chometz into trash cans outside the firehouse that were then emptied by Woodmere firefighters into a dumpster where a larger fire burned. Non-perishable items were collected and were given to the JCC’s Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry in Woodmere.
“This is by the neighbors for the neighbors,” Woodmere Fire Department Lt. Marc Deutsch said about the event.
Deutsch said that the all-volunteer department, which has up to 60 active members including firefighters and emergency medical technicians, is always looking for members. Those interested in joining can contact the department at (516) 374-0934 or at join@woodmerefd.com.