An Israeli astronaut is making a decidedly low-tech delivery to the International Space Station: handmade matzah. Eytan Stibbe, 64, is one of three astronauts who paid for the privilege of launching into space on Friday , in an initiative of Axiom Space, a private company based in Houston. Chabad of the Space and Treasure Coasts in Florida delivered Stibbe a Passover food package, noting that he will be on the space station when Passover starts on the evening of April 15, Chabad.or g reported. Stibbe explained the significance of the holiday in a Zoom press conference earlier this week. “The seder, Passover, is all about freedom which is a value we celebrate annually and remind ourselves about the importance of freedom,” he said. Related articles: SpaceX craft docks at ISS to rescue crew trapped for 9 months Astronaut celebrates Hanukkah in space Last minute maneuver avoids collision with Russian space junk Israel's 2nd astronaut lands safely back on Earth Stibbe said he is bringing a wine cup with him, although one drinks through a straw in space. To that end, Rabbi Zvi Konikov, the Chabad rabbi who delivered the package to Stibbe, included a number of grape juice boxes. The package also contains shmura matzah, the variety that is hand-baked and preferred by many Orthodox Jews. Stibbe, 64, is the second-ever Israeli astronaut to go into space, following in the steps of Ilan Ramon, who like Stibbe was a former Israeli pilot. Ramon died aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. After serving as a combat pilot for the Israel Defense Forces, Stibbe has been involved in investing in Africa as the founding director of the Vital Capital Fund.
