It is not about cleaning

After months of fear and thousands of discussions and weeks of planning and days of hard work, I am almost done with the Pesach preparations. I avoid to overuse the word 'cleaning' because: 1. does not have nothing to do with 'spring cleaning' and another kind of seasonal cleaning; 2. the word does not cover properly what the entire process has to do with.

Compared with other holidays, I always prefer to get ready for Pesach on my own. I want to be sure that every corner was checked and that I checked carefully the closets and shelves in order to find out things I will rather give to those in real need. I want to do the kashering myself because I like to observe all the details. I also do most part of the shopping on my own, because I want to look at each product and eventually have my own exchange of ideas and thoughts about Pesach.

Each year, there are different lessons. For instance, this year, the decision was to have a very modest Pesach. We have different editions of the Haggadah and there will be many dvar Torah moments, but the menu as such, will be as heimish as possible. Not sophisticated cakes, many salads, matzos - choco matza cannot miss - and good wine. But not eccentric cakes and bread-like meals. 

I need simple meals and Torah learning, especially after weeks when I tried to prepare the good ambiance, without any source of pride and illusions of greatness. The learning is not for showing off but for finding the truth and the food is for basic sustenance, not for wasting impressive amounts of food and resources. 

As in the daily life, we may discover that we don't need everything or big quantities to be happy and feel accomplished: just the proper quality for daily sustenance. And more than anything else, the source of the water we need daily can't be bought.

A meaningful and kosher Pesach!

Pesach cleaning, the new chapter

One week before Purim, I was already taking about what it is to happen next. Two days after, I visited some of my heimishe friends and they were already done 25% of the cleaning. More than one week after Purim, I am here writing a post about Pesach cleaning, but don't have a plan to cope with the challenge. 

To be very honest, I am not as spontaneous as I want to look like. Ten days ago when I was trying to find something fast to cook, I mapped the dangerous corners of the kitchen where most likely chometz is comfortably hiding. I can see often myself starting a huge cleaning process, when everyone in the house is doing its job properly, without any protests against the assigned task. Even if some are faster, they offer to do my part. 

The tragi-comic part of the story is that we don't even know exactly where we will spend Pesach, and I am fighting the terrible feeling that I will need to take care of cleaning another house besides mine, in case that we want to backpack and go in another sunnier place. 

What I know for sure is that I want to enjoy the mitzva of Pesach cleaning. Most probably will listen to some shiurim or hazzanut when cleaning. I will find the most creative recipes for the time of the matzot and will try to learn as much as possible about the holiday. As I am the kind of person that is doing the best job when coping with stress, the proper cleaning will be done 10 days before Pesach, regardless of where we will decide to spend the 2 seder. 

I don't to hear anyone complaining about how hard is to eat matzot and we will find the best ways to embelish the mitzvot with new and nice tablecloth, songs and new yidden that we plan to meet. As usual, we have special savings that will help us, iy''H, to have the best on our table, both spiritually and physically. 

We all have been on Sinai so we better open our doors and hearts for being really free. When your heart is happy with the mitzvot, you are free and happy, even when all you have is a small piece of matza.