"Pesach 2019"

One child is screaming, the other nagging while the third is simply coloring; only the walls of the house are his coloring board. The cleaning supplies are scattered, brooms and strange looking mops with a smell that both includes bleach and dust. There is a state of chaos and it seems there is only more dysfunction ahead. Every year there are promises, long heartfelt promises, that this year, we will do it right. We will make a plan, even if we have to start by Chanukah. Ahh Pesach, that we all know so well. There are the parts which are cherished by all, the ma nishtana, the chol hamoad adventures, the spirit of the Seder night and family connections. And then there is the, cleaning of the air conditioning vents and the last minute cooking which has its own less desires moments. Pesach preparations puts the erev Shabbos hustle and bustle to shame. It begins the second Purim is over, and finishes somewhere in the omer; a sort of month-like Fridays. It is understandably a time which can result to leading towards unwanted states of mind. An almost tension like atmosphere that only gets stronger as we get closer to Peasch.

It does create and opportunity though, you see, if we have holy thoughts as we are in the midst of this work, we can truly elevate it, to a place where we can truly connect to this magnificent holiday. Thinking about how each bread crumb that has to be destroyed from within us (as representations of our sins) and the true wonder of salvation that was brought by Hashem. That every swipe of the broom is a declaration of the Almighty’s will and each pain or suffering experienced is all in preparation of this Miztvah of the Torah. That this is such an important day to Hashem, that he required us to change the calendar (leap year) to have Pesach in the spring time as it says “bechodesh aviv”. So as you are deep within your car, or under a bed but, you connect these ideas to the true miracles of Mizrayim and the exuberant feelings that were felt as we were able to enter a new chapter as a nation. And if you are from the lucky ones who do it with a sparkling smile, then you will sit at the shining Seder and it will be the true understanding of what it meant to go from bondage and slavery to unrestricting freedom. It’s not easyJ. Each person of the household can be a part of the Miztvah though, each doing their part as we get closer to the 15^th of Nissan so that every action we do, whether it be a Windex operation or a matzah purchase, we can think about how special we are, to be able to experience once again a true deliverance by Hashem. About how nice the weather is and to remember how, that lovely weather was also experienced by us so many years ago. And each year that we go back to the grind of the Pesach operations, we become closer to the Geulah, that which will ultimately happen in our times as well Bemheira Beyameinu.