Dateline Jerusalem – It is springtime in Israel, and the weather is glorious, bright blue skies, comfortable temperatures. For the rest of the world, people north of the equator who had been snowbound or cold are also out and about, beginning spring cleaning. The yearly habit of cleaning one's home top to bottom reminds me of the preparations for the Jewish holiday of Passover (Pesach) at this time of year. I often have wondered if the origin of spring cleaning can be traced to Passover. Jews have been exiled all over the world, and the custom of spring cleaning does not appear to be associated with any one country.
Passover commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, when Moses demanded Pharaoh free his people. There was no time to allow their bread to rise when they fled, so Jews throughout the world eat an unleavened bread called matzoh as a symbolic reminder of their flight from slavery. Then there are forbidden foods. As a further reminder, all chametz (pronounced with a guttural sound), such as leavened bread or products made with yeast or fermentation, are prohibited from remaining in a Jewish home during the week-long observance of Passover. Chametz also includes foods made from wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelts. The Torah (Bible) commands Jews to avoid any food that might contain even a trace of chametz. Unless there is a kosher for Passover certification, it might contain traces of chametz if the product was processed on equipment used to process chametz products.
No Exceptions
Even bread crumbs are considered an affront to G-d. Therefore, Jews throughout the world are busy preparing their homes for the holiday that begins next week. They are scouring their homes, making sure not a crumb can be found. Just before the holiday begins, Jews will take a wooden spoon, a candle and a feather to hunt for remaining chametz. By candlelight, they search for crumbs, scoop them with a feather into the spoon. The next morning, any remaining chametz will be burned. Silverware and dishes not koshered for Passover and cleaning products must be stored in sealed cabinets and rooms. Anything with chametz that has not been destroyed is sold to a non-Jew by a rabbi and bought back after the Passover holiday.
For Ashkenazim, Jews who tend to come from Europe and Russia, medieval sages banned kitniyot, legumes, corn, rice, and beans because they are similar to chametz. Sephardi Jews, who tend to come from Spain, Mediterranean countries, and the Middle East, do not have the prohibition of kitniyot. At one time Ashkenazim were only 3 percent of the world's Jews. Now they are 80 percent. In Israel, more than half of the country is of Sephardi descent. It is a nightmare trying to find food products kosher for Passover without kitniyot. It is a good thing that I can read a little Hebrew and determine what the products say. “Kosher for Passover” in Israel is different from “kosher for Passover” in the States. In America there are so many Passover products to choose from. Not in Israel. Even non-Jewish regular U.S. supermarkets carry more of a variety of Passover foods than the markets here. Another problem for Ashkenazim in Israel occurs when invited to a Sephardi home for the Passover Seder. Usually going to a Sephardi Seder must be avoided since kitniyot ingredients make up their Seder meal.
The Seder reminds Jews that in every generation we must feel as though we have personally come out of Egypt, since Passover commemorates the exodus from Egypt to Jerusalem. Unfortunately, only 20 percent of the Jewish people left Egypt with Moses. The rest refused to go or were satisfied with their lifestyle as slaves in Egypt. Those who wanted to stay behind perished during the plague of darkness.
The words “Next year in Jerusalem” are said at the end of Seders throughout the world. It refers to the coming of Moshiach (the Messiah), spiritual redemption, the rebuilding of the holy Temple. Even in Israel, as in the rest of the world, we say “Next year in Jerusalem.” Those who actually live in Jerusalem say “Next year in Jerusalem rebuilt.”
L'hitraot. Shachar
