PESACH EVE

14th of Nisan, 5770 Erev Pesach

In order to persuade Pharaoh to let the Jewish people go free, the Almighty inflicted upon Egypt ten plagues. The last one, the plague that finally persuaded Pharaoh, was the death of the first-born. While every Egyptian first born was killed the Almighty “…Pasach al Bate Bene Israel beMitzraim beNogfo et Mitzraim… ”( Shemot –Exodus- 11:27) …protected the houses of the people of Israel and no one was killed.

The proper translation of the word Pesach then, should be “Protection” not, “Passover.” That is how the ancient Targum Onkelos rendered “pasach”: “Chais” from Chas, which means to protect, to care. While through the Mashchit -Malakh haMavet “angel of death”- God was inflicting this plague to the Egyptians, He “himself”, so to speak, was protecting the Jewish houses. In remembrance of this special protection, this festival is named “Pesach”.

The idea of “Protection” gives more sense to this festival, which not by a chance is also called Lel Shimurim, “Night of (Divine) protection”. It also reinforces the idea that our main right as the chosen people is that the Almighty promised to protect us -as a people- from extinction. And so far He has delivered.

As we celebrate the special protection the Almighty granted us in Egypt we pray to the Almighty for His protection in these times too. May HaShem bless all of us and our families and may He always protect our beloved Medinat Israel and all our brothers and sisters who lived there. AMEN!!!

Chag Sameach!!!

PESACH and Matza

11th of Nisan, 5770

We ate Matza upon our sudden departure from Egypt. We had no time to prepare anything for the journey, not even bread - so Matza brings the good memories of “rushing to freedom”.

On the other hand, when we were slaves in Egypt we ate every single day only Matza! (Ha lachma anyia di akhalu abahatana beara demisraim). Matza was conceived by the cruel Egyptians as the ideal food for their Jewish slaves. It was cheap, easy to prepare and lasted longer than regular bread in the slave’s stomachs. In our collective memory Matza also brings sad memories… to make bread you let the dough rest for approximately 10 minutes and only then you put it in the oven. In Egyptian captivity, the resting of the dough was skipped. Why? Because the Jewish slaves had to work without a pause. The Egyptians were not willing to concede the Jewish slaves the time that would allow the dough to raise and to be made into bread, because the Jews were not allowed to have even ten minutes to rest from work....

During the Pesach Seder we revive and literally "taste" the bitter experience of slavery and the sweetness of freedom. There are two types of symbols in the Seder: Maror (bitter leaves), Charoset (or Haligh), and vinegar, all reminders of a cruel slavery. On the other hand, four cups of wine, seating reclined –slaves use to seat on the floor – are symbols of freedom and liberty.

The Matza is unique because it represents both: slavery and freedom.

We celebrate our freedom, but without forgetting our suffering.

PESACH Seder

10th of Nisan, 5770

“Vehigadta lebinkha bayom hahu…” the Torah instructs us to educate our children telling them the story of Pesach. This is why we have the Seder. The Seder is a very important moment in our lives as Jews. And as families. We are all reunited with our immediate and extended family to remember the slavery, celebrate our freedom and thank HaShem Almighty for saving and protecting us.

The Seder needs to be educational and at the same time… entertaining or at least , participative. If people are bored, then they will talk and kill the spirit of this night … . But, how you get the attention of children who belong to the X-Box generation?

I want to share with you an idea:

Send and email NOW to every family member, your spouse, your children, brothers and those who will attend your Seder. Divide the Hagada and ask every one of them to prepare one specific part: you read this, you explain that, you sing this, you play that (in my house the pick of the night is when the youngest children roll play the 10 Makkot for all of as!). The secret, as always, is anticipation. Do it today, so everyone can be prepared to do something. Suggest them to find some ideas or explanations in www.aish.com, www.ou.org and other Jewish web sites.

I want to share with you a beautiful real email that was sent by a very young member of our community to his friends and family members, inviting them to be prepared for the Seder.

I'm very excited to come home for this year's seder.
We will be having a FUN, MEANINGFUL AND EDUCATIONAL seder!
HOWEVER, I HAVE SEVERAL DEMANDS FOR SEDER 5770 (2010)

- You must read this "Seder in a Nutshell" from Chabad.org - http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1751/jewish/The-Seder-in-a-Nutshell.htm
- Jamie - you have to remember or find out the tune to Chad Gadiah . (no improve this year.)
- Whoever is hosting the seder, don't forget to buy a lot of wine.
- Anyone who can, please put together something nice to say--a story from previous seders, or what seder's were like in Iran, stories about mamanjoon or babajoon, or some nice insight you've learned about pesach)
- NO ONE is allowed to get up till THE END!!!!!!!!! Till we say "shanah ha baah be Yerushalyim" (NOT Miami Shirl!)
Everyone get into the Pesach mode!
Thank you for your cooperation in advance.
-joe

Remember: The more preparation you put into the Seder the more everyone will enjoy it.

Finally, given all the hard work women must do cleaning the house and preparing Seder, I would suggest the educational part should be organized mainly by the men of the family.


For more information about Bedika, Bitul, Selling the Chametz, Pesach out of town, etc, see:
https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=S1VEa3NWT01kMnMwTVE9PQ

For all general Pesach information and food lists and forms , see: http://www.mashadi.info/pesach5770