Burning the chometz in Woodmere and Atlantic Beach

Beautiful spring weather combined with the warm, communal feeling of the upcoming Passover holiday created a home-like atmosphere outside the Woodmere firehouse as the fire department hosted its 17th annual chometz burning on April 15. Chometz is non-kosher food and items for the eight-day Jewish holiday.

Coming from across the Five Towns and the surrounding communities, people dropped their chometz into one of the five trash cans that the firefighters tended to ensure items burned safely.

There were also two tables that furnished copies of the prayers and two jars that people donated a few dollars to the fire department, an all-volunteer unit.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Town of Hempstead Clerk Kate Murray and Council people Anthony D’Esposito and Melissa Miller stopped by and addressed the importance of burning the chometz safely.

In Atlantic Beach, village Trustees Linda Baessler and Andrew Rubin welcomed people who dropped their chometz into two trash cans and two receptacles out side village hall, also on April 15. The Long Beach Fire Department safely burnt those items.