Happy Pesach!

Time for some honesty.

I don't like pesach. Really.

I hate having to clean. But more then that I hate the feeling that despite how much you clean, the house is still dirty. And still full of chometz. I'm sure of it. I just know that over pesach those little bits of chometz are sitting in the cracks laughing at us saying 'hehehehe you missed us'. Ya, I hate that part.

I don't much like the spiritual aspect of it either. The whole 'we were freed from Egypt looooong ago, so now let us celebrate by drinking wine, eating bitter herbs and being merry.' Not my style.

I don't mind the matzah though. All good and crunchy. Not bad.

I don't like the family part. Holiday is a time to spend with family, right? Grit your teeth and try to smile and not scream or strangle anybody. By the time it's over there is grape juice on the walls and on white shirts, some broken chairs, many tears spilled, and being holed up in your room with the door locked and barricaded hoping no one will bother you there. Ya that's the worst part about it.

Chol hamoade is not much fun cuz I don't like concerts, or amusement parks, and I am old enough that museum and fares are no longer exciting.

Did I kill your vibe yet?

If pesach is not about the cleaning, and it's not about the food, if it's totally not about the family time, or the fun, if it's not about the customs or the mitzvot, then what is it about?

Well it is definitely not about this. But it does have something to do with this.

I'd like to think that it's about you. As selfish as that sounds. You are not ready for pesach until you have cleared yourself of spiritual chometz too. And that is not as simple as sweeping and vacuuming and scrubbing until it shines. It involved deep soul searching. Did I mention I hate that too?

And it is about sharing. Opening your home to another Jew, going out on mivtzoyim and finding someone to share the story of pesach with, giving of yourself, a bit of sacrifice, influencing someone.

Sometimes it strikes me how so many people in this world are so selfish. Myself included. How many times do you stop to give charity to someone in the street? How many times do you hold the door for someone? Help someone carry their bags. Or even smile at a stranger. Simple acts that take little from you, but give of yourself to another person.

Long ago the Jews were liberated from Egypt. I don't know what that means to me but I hope to find out someday. Pesach may be about everything I hate about it, but it is also about giving. I may not be able to clean, but how hard is it to give?

A kosher and freilechin one to all of you, and make sure not to let my dislikes get you down or enjoy the holiday any less.