'The Search for Leavened Bread' ( 'L'Examen du Levain'), 1723 (engraving)

Illustration depicts the mistress of the house preparing for the feast of Passover by placing crumbs of leavened bread (hamets) in corners of the home; these are collected by her husband and will be burnt; only unleavened bread (matzo) can be eaten during Passover; from the first volume of 'Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les peuples du monde' by A. Moubach, published in Amsterdam between 1723 and 1743; Amsterdam was the centre of the thriving Dutch Jewish community from the 16th century onwards and consisted initially of Marranos and Sephardim who had been expelled from Spain and Portugal; later a large Ashkenazi community developed;