In the spirit of religious accommodation and interfaith camaraderie, for the 30th consecutive year, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is leaning into tradition, assisting the West End Synagogue with its annual Passover celebration. MNPD Chief John Drake stepped into the breach, temporarily assuming the deed for all the congregation’s chametz—that's bread and leavened products forbidden during this sacred holiday.

With the sun setting and Passover officially kicking off, Drake effectively became the pantry overlord for the Jewish congregation, a role he'll play through to April 30. While the rest of us might think storing a loaf away is no big deal, for the observant Jewish folks, this practice is bread and butter. They quit claim on all raise-worthy products, a prohibition dating back a few millennia, sealing them in closets or cupboards that'll remain untouched, while a rabbi gives it the legal heave-ho to someone like Drake, who is not bound by the same religious dietary rules.

The symbolic handover rite is not just about the unleavened, it represents a stalwart bond between Nashville's police and the local Jewish community. This is the 30th year for the Passover partnership between the police department and the West End Synagogue, as mentioned by MNPD's website. Each year, Passover rolls around and each year, the MNPD rolls up its sleeves to support. 

Nashville's men and women in blue partnering with Rabbi Joshua Kullock to break the gap, is worth noting—albeit with a misplaced modifier. In response, the West End Synagogue is donating to a local charity, as a token of appreciation for the department's ongoing commitment.