Sometimes I read a note on Facebook that just touches my soul. It happened now. Someone posted about meeting a woman shopping for Passover food in a grocery store. She was crying while holding a box of Joyva Ring Jells in her hands. It seemed her mother passed away, and this would be the first seder without her. Her mother loved Ring Jells, and the sight of this box made her cry.
This box is now empty. But I enjoyed every one.
That should be my children one day. I love Ring Jells. While I cook my seder meals and prepare for the long hours ahead, I eat these throughout the day, to me, they are the most delicious chocolate covered sweets. I am basically addicted to them. The taste of raspberry and chocolate together delights me. Thank goodness I only find them during the holidays.
My addiction started when I was 16 years old working behind the deli and cheese counter at the Daitch Shopwell in Monticello, Sullivan County New York. It is here that I served the women and men who spent their summers relaxing, cutting their cheese selections and their deli orders. I worked at this supermarket for three summers, earning spending money and preparing for the costs of college.
But it is also where I learned to love Joyva Ring Jells. We sold them in the dairy section of the deli, along with all the cheese. We had a large display of them. Hundreds of ring jells for sale by the pound. I loved them. I have to admit it, I would snack on them. Not eating tons. But at least two or three each shift I worked. Eventually the manager told me to stop. And buy some. So I did. I would weigh out 3-5, pay for them, and keep them behind the counter with me. Snacking as needed. When the weekends were busy with crazy customers, I really did need them to get me through the day.
Marshmallow twists live in my freezer.
I did not realize they were a special Passover treat. In our house, my Mom was a Joyva Marshmallow twist fancier. She would buy them at Pesach and keep them in the freezer all year to snack on. Did you ever eat frozen marshmallow twists? At first you have to be careful not to hurt your teeth, but after a bit they melt just a little and are delicious. I admit I still have some in my freezer from last year. Usually you had to get just plain white ones. However, sometimes we could find the ones with pink insides!
After I learned about jell rings, I had to have those as well. My sister and I favored them over the Marshmallow twists, which I think made Mom happy. She would share them with everyone, but now had more for herself.
The ring jells, on the other hand, were the perfect snack. I would take two or three at a time, stick them on my fingers, and get ready to eat. We do crazy things when we were younger.
When I left the east coast for the middle of the country, I had an issue. I could not find them in Kansas. But when my parents were alive and visiting, they would bring boxes of Ring Jells and Marshmallow twists with them. So we never suffered during the Pesach holiday. They also brought Bartons candies, another treat that was nowhere to be found in Kansas City. Eventually these treats came out west, and I could get them on my own.
Ring Jells are comfort food for my sister and me. I am going to visit her the end of the week. I sent her the following text message on the Thursday before Pesach: “So I purchased one box of raspberry jelly rings to bring to you. And one for my home. Cause I have to have some. But I had three today and I feel better.”
She wrote back: “I bought two boxes for when you are here! LOL”
My response: “LOL I will leave mine at home. We do not need three. Great minds think alike.”
A number of years ago we went through a difficult time. We lost our parents and aunt in less than a year. Five months later, erev Pesach, my sister’s husband also passed. It was a horrible time. I did not know how we would survive that holiday. But I have to say, our friends knew of our need and ring jell addiction. Friends filled the house.
I don’t know how many of them went shopping. But in days we had boxes upon boxes of ring jells. In the evenings, when most everyone had left, my sister and I ate ring jells and talked. It was a Pesach that tried our souls. And I hate to be trite, but the ring jells gave us a small amount of comfort in our first Pesach without these beloved family members. (And a mighty thank you to all who purchased them for us. I don’t know if I ever told you how important they were in this horrible time.)
Special foods bring memories and joy. For me Joyva jell rings helped me through preparing seders and difficult times. They bind me with my sister. I could see my children crying over them when I leave this world. But I don’t think they will buy or eat them. This addiction will probably end with me.
A zissel Pesach to all.
https://zicharonot.com/2014/02/05/my-jobs-behind-a-deli-counter-daitch-shopwell-and-butenskys/
zicharonot 
For me, it is those half-circle fruit candies. I only eat them at Passover, but it isn’t Passover without them! Great memories…
Lol. I buy them for a friend who comes to our Seder. He lives north where there are not many Jewish people. They are all for him and he takes the box home. 😊
🙂