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THE PRE-PESACH DRIVE IS ON

As the glorious holiday of Pesach approaches us, Jewish homes are busy preparing for this most demanding of our holidays. We are all familiar with the physical aspects of pre-Pesach preparations. - the koshering process of the kitchen and eating utensils, the general spring cleaning which has become part of Pesach preparations, the purchasing of Pesach foods and in many cases the confirmation of hotel reservations for the holiday. In addition, Jews usually participate in great fundraising drives for the needy for Pesach and this is also the season for purchasing new clothing for the family and painting and otherwise refurbishing our homes and apartments.

In short, it is a busy time for all of the myriad and detailed items that must be accomplished before we sit down, somewhat exhausted but nevertheless exhilarated, at the great festive Pesach Seder. The financial demands for all of this pre-Pesach activity are not to be minimized and therefore getting ready for Pesach always consumes a substantial portion of our annual household budget. Because of this - the work, the expense, the requirements of holy ritual and the additional pressures of regular everyday life, many times the period before Pesach carries with it tensions and stress in the home and family. It is precisely because of this heavy and potentially dangerous physical load that pre-Pesach duties imposes on us, that we should seek relief and serenity in another non-physical aspect of pre-Pesach preparations.

The spiritual aspect of pre-Pesach preparations is two-fold. One is the historical contemplation of Jewish life and existence over the centuries of our story. It is 3919 years since the Exodus from Egypt. So many different eras, empires, civilizations and technological and political revolutions have occurred during these over thirty nine centuries, that it is difficult to imagine that a small and stubbornly different people could have survived it all and still continue to prosper and to influence the world in so many ways.

Thinking about Pesach makes us also think about how special we truly are and what our purpose and responsibility in life and in this world should be. Jewish history is not only facts and dates, scholarship and academic disciplines. It is, more importantly, inspiration and faith, guidance and hope, vision and destiny. And for all practical purposes, Jewish history begins with Pesach, with the Exodus from Egypt. It is ironic that there are those in the Jewish world who, for whatever unfathomable reasons, have attempted to deny the entire narrative of the Exodus from Egypt.

All of Jewish history and the fact of Jewish survival itself over the ages put the lie to such attempts and theories. Judaism is based upon the simple notion that my grandfather was not a liar. All of the deniers of the Exodus are modern scholars. Well, we are witness to the fact that many truths, such as the Holocaust, can spawn a denial industry. But that will not change the truth. So, knowing the Jewish story is itself a great high point of our pre-Pesach preparations.

The second spiritual aspect of pre-Pesach planning lies in an appreciation of the innate demand of our souls to be considered free in the highest sense of the concept of freedom. Judaism’s definition of freedom contains within it strong limits and rules of conduct to govern that freedom. Freedom does not allow a person to be dissolute, addicted, violent or immoral. Freedom demands purpose and goals, accomplishments and creativity. In other words, freedom must be comforting to the inner sense of the person.

If it only engenders an insatiable appetite for more and destroys any sense of appreciation for what is, then this type of freedom truly becomes a form of addictive slavery. Freedom means a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, an appreciation of life and family, health and accomplishment. Pre-Pesach preparations include the development of this Torah sense of freedom. For even though physical freedom is necessary in order to develop this necessary sense of well being and self worth, without a sense of spiritual freedom to accompany and complement it, its benefits will remain temporary and hollows.

The rabbis of the Talmud taught that proper preparation is the key to both physical and spiritual success and happiness. I think that this is doubly true concerning the blessings of the great holiday of Pesach that is fast approaching.

Shabat shalom.

Berel Wein