Rose Knows

Q: Why do we drink that awful Maneshewitz wine at Passover? — D.

A: Not one of the classic four questions, but close enough. As the Passover seder is obsessed with the number four, I have four answers for you. Pick and choose at your whim.

1. To remind us of the suffering of our ancestors. If matzo and syrupy wine were good enough for our forebears in the desert, the Old Country and Brooklyn, it’s good enough for us.
2. Because kids always want to try wine, and the taste is enough to keep them off the sauce well into college. Well, high school, at least.
3. Because even though there are actual good-tasting kosher-for-Passover wines out there, none of them hold the charoset together quite as well as the sticky standby.
4. Because after four cups of wine, who cares what anything tastes like? This also explains that weird tart-like dessert with the jam spots on top. As does reply number one.