Of all of the Jewish holidays, Pesach is the most complicated, with many details that require our attention. In addition to the cleaning and preparation there are also a wide variety of Pesach customs and traditions that vary from family to family, from group to group. For some it is what they will be eating on Passover while for others it is what they will NOT be eating over the eight day holiday. There are varying ritual customs that are performed at the Seder in different homes. The common denominator is that all of these dos and don’ts are very detailed and require an investment of effort.
The question is, “Why is this holiday different than all of other holidays?” One of the angles of the significance of Pesach is that it is the day that Ezekiel describes as the birth of the Jewish nation. Sticking with the birth theme we can gain an appreciation for the need for attention to every minute detail. The process of childbirth is fantastic, yet every moment and detail is critical to the health and wellbeing of the child to be born. The slightest mishap can have far-reaching consequences. A momentary deprivation of oxygen can impair the child’s function for life. Therefore we anticipate and account for each detailed step of the process to best of our ability so as ensure a smooth and healthy birth.
The same can be said for Pesach. Since it is the “birth” of our people we must be careful with every detail. Nobody would ever look down at parents for taking precautions with their child’s birth. Similarly paying close attention to the Pesach details is laudable and recommended.
One of the ways to make Pesach more meaningful is to become informed on the significance of the various traditions. There is no better venue than www.chabadneworleans.com/passover to achieve this goal. The Chabad.org network receives billions of hits each year and Passover generates some the highest traffic. You can access anything from how-to wizards, stories, recipes, study, multi-media to children’s activities and entertainment.
To sell your chametz go to www.chabadneworleans.com/271377. Time is running out so do not delay. Chabad Center of Metairie is hosting a Community Seder. For more information or to register, go to www.jewishlouisiana.com.
Mazel tov to Warren Cohen upon being honored at Chabad of Brooklyn Heights’ recent dinner.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin