Spiritual Cleansing

Cleaning for Pesach means little to me these days. My cleaning consists of trying to decide if I should sell my chometz or throw it away, which cabinets in my apartment to sell, whether I should use this opportunity to thoroughly clean my room, or enjoy the fact that I don't need to.

I always enjoy introspection, to a degree. The best places to think are sitting by the water, or on a mountaintop, reveling in the beauty that G-d created. But I will not be waking up every morning at 3 am, to climb a mountain, to reach it by Sunrise, to sit there and take in the view, and meditate on my life. As tempting as that sounds.

We have many opportunities for cleansing and introspection, most importantly Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. But we learn that as we are physically cleaning our homes for Pesach, it is a good time to clean our souls as well.

Tonight and tomorrow is Yud Aleph Nissan, the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. It has even become a noteworthy day by the US government:

Education and Sharing Day USA (1978-Current)

 

To emphasize the vital role of education in society, the United States annually marks "Education and Sharing Day U.S.A."

Established in 1978 by a joint Congressional resolution, Education Day U.S.A. focuses on the very foundation of meaningful education: instructing our youth in the ways of morality and ethics, and teaching them an appreciation for divine inviolable values.

The Presidents designate annually Education and Sharing Day U.S.A. on the anniversary of the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, who dedicated his life to the cause of education.

The Rebbe is the one who implemented special Mivtzahs for ones birthday, and he taught us to celebrate it and use in as a special day of prayer and introspection.

As the Rebbe is a Nasi Klali (general leader) and contains a part of every Jew, we celebrate his birthday in a fitting way. It is also a time to give a 'gift' to the Rebbe, and the things that were most important to him were working on our avodas Hashem, and most importantly, Ahavas Yisroel.

How can I make the Rebbe proud of me?
How can I better my Avodas Hashem?
What am I not doing now that I should be doing?
What am I doing now that I should not be doing?
How can I become a better person, a better Jew, a better friend, a better daughter, a more helpful member of society?

Being that this is not a diary, I will not answer these questions here. I find that I have little time, or rather little opportunity to look inwards and think about change. But if you never change you will always remain the same. If you are not constantly growing, you will fall. I have learned this the hard way.

I will not be home in time to physically help clean for Pesach, but I know my soul can use some scrubbing.  

I may not have a mountaintop, but I know that if I 'close my eyes and take a ride inside', I will remember what it felt like.

(Real Picture taken with my camera in Eilat)