Chaverim:
It’s almost time for Pesach! You know, the “Festival of
Freedom”, the holiday on which we celebrate our release from slavery to Pharaoh
in Egypt by abiding by the very strict dietary and ritual rules created by the
Rabbis and Jewish Tradition, including eating the hardtack called matzah for
eight days. Freedom, you say? God said, “Send forth My people, so they may
serve me.” That’s how it is typically translated. But the Hebrew word for “so
they may serve me”, “v’ya’avduni”, might better be translated as “so they will slave
for Me”. The root for “serve”, “avad”, is also the root for “eved” – “slave”.
So, how do you manage Pesach in such a way as to avoid complete slavery?
Here are some simple rules:
1.
Accept that you are not perfect – and neither is
anyone else! You don’t have to do it all!
2.
Prepare the house by cleaning and removing the
chametz.
3.
Prepare the food for the Seder.
4.
Prepare the food for the remainder of the
holiday by shopping for it before Pesach.
5.
Prepare yourself and your family spiritually.
6.
Prepare yourself and your family intellectually.
7.
Do not drive yourself or anyone else crazy – see
number rule #1.
8.
Remember that Pesach really is about freedom; freedom is fun; have fun! See rule #7.
9.
Any questions? Ask a competent rabbi!
Following, in no particular order, are some internet resources
to help you follow the above rules, except #1 and #7 – you’ll probably have to
manage those without a URL:
1. The Rabbinical Assembly’s brief guide to Pesach
prep for Rules 2,3,and 4: http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/jewish-law/holidays/pesah/rabbinical-assembly-pesah-guide-5773.pdf
2. Rabbi Dov Lerner’s page of
Do-It-Yourself Haggadot, Songbooks,
Seder Supplements and more, for Rules 5,6 and 8 (follow links from the main
page for resources for other holidays, too): http://www.jewishfreeware.org/downloads/folder.2006-01-07.0640323187/
3. MyJewishLearning.com is, IMVHO, the best Jewish
educational resource on the web, and has material on virtually everything you
might ever want to know about Judaism, but didn’t know how or whom to ask. The
homepage is easily navigable. For Pesach, go to this page: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Passover.shtml
4.
The Conservative Yeshiva, in Jerusalem, has a
number of text resources for study before the holiday and for discussion at the
Seder. See the following examples (and look at the E-Shiurim for more texts and
guides): http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/wp-content/uploads/Going-from-Observer-to-Participant.pdf http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/rich-matzah-poor-matzah http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/the-social-side-of-pesach
5. Passover Gateway, a Pesach resource from an
Orthodox perspective, also with good general Jewish resources on its main page: http://www.beingjewish.com/yomtov/passover
6. Passover according to Chabad in a
straightforward manner. Follow the links on this page: http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/aid/109747/jewish/Passover.htm
7. Especially good for beginners, National Jewish
Outreach Program’s extensive and accessible collection of how-to’s, background
materials and videos, from the folks who bring you Shabbat Across America and
Jewish Treats webzine (also has Shabbat and other holiday resources): http://njop.org/resources/holidays/complete-guide-to-holidays/passover/
8. JewishBoston.com has Pesach resources, including
a downloadable and editable Haggadah, as well as feminist and social justice
versions, leader’s guide, kids’ projects, and more, at:
One other note. One of my seminary teachers suggested that,
in addition to whichever Haggadah of choice you use for your Seder, you should
every year acquire a new Haggadah with commentary and illustrations to help you
prepare and make your Seder more enjoyable. Ask your local Jewish bookseller,
consult with a rabbi, explore the web – there are beautiful and accessible
Haggadot available. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Passover Haggadah – The Feast of Freedom.
The Rabbinical Assembly, 1982.
2. A Passover Haggadah – Go Forth and Learn.
Rabbi David Silver. Jewish Publication Society, 2011.
3. The Haggadah Treasury. Rabbi Nosson
Scherman. Artscroll, 1978.
4. From Bondage to Freedom – The Passover
Haggadah. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. Shaar Press, 1995
5. A Different Night – The Family Participation
Haggadah. Noam Zion and David Dishon. Shalom Hartman Institute, 1997.
6. Studies on the Haggadah from the Teachings of
Nechama Leibowitz. Urim Publications, 2002.
7. The Hirsch Haggadah. Samson Raphael
Hirsch. Feldheim Publishers, 1993.
8. A Feast of History. Chaim Raphael.
Steimatzky’s, 1972. (Out of print L but available used)
9. The Origins of the Seder. Baruch Bokser.
JTS Press, 2002 (Paperback edition). Not a Haggadah, but for those interested
in an academic treatise that opens the eyes to history.
Wishing you a Chag Pesach Sameach, Kasher v’Mashma’uti – A Passover that is Happy, Kosher and Meaningful!
