paying3tuitions

You're safe to send in a box of Passover-approved candies, if your supermarket has a Passover section up this week. Be sure the box says "kosher for Passover" and not just "Kosher." Some KP products are chocolates, jellied fruits, chocolate lollipops, and all are pricey. A box can run $5+, so a hostess can always use more, including during the week.

Another idea is to go to a synagogue judaica gift shop and see if anything catches your fancy, such as a special jar marked "charoses" or an acrylic box to hold matzo all week.

If you like to make a craft, you can try making an envelope-sized fabric "Afikomen Holder." Write (or embroider !?!) the word on it in English: Afikomen. The seder leader can use it to hide the Afikomen that kids hunt for, and they won't be able to fool him with a decoy! You might need a note to explain that one, however.

Recently I saw potholders in our supermarket with a photo-fabric that looked just like matzo. Kind of cute!

Also remember that any hostess gift can be used at a later time, so if you send in a nice jam or jar of honey with a bow, marked, "for use later in the year" you'll look like you know what you're doing and she can stash it away to use after the week's done.

Flowers are a choice, too.

If they belong to a synagogue, and you want to be amazing, call the synagogue office early this week, ask their minimum donation, and make it in the name of the family, "In Appreciation of your Hospitality, from the X Family." It'll be published in their next month's bulletin and they'll look great! If they ask you which fund, you can say "General" or "Education" or whatever you wish. On seder night, your D can hand them a little handwritten card that says, "We just made a small donation to your temple, in appreciation of your hospitality." Then, you're covered for that night.