Pesach Message Shavuah Tov Shavuah Tov
Chag Sameach everyone. I hope you have a lovely Pesach (Passover, of course).
The kids in our school have been practicing the four questions and we’ve been talking about chametz, all those grain products Jews don’t eat during Pesach. I want to share with you some of their questions about chametz (chumetz is the Yiddish pronunciation) because while some of the kids pay attention to Pesach eating, some do not. I suspect this reflects the adult observance as well. The lessons behind Pesach eating are really good and meaningful and teach us so much about ourselves. It is a very worthwhile experience to be mindful of what we eat this coming week.
Let me answer some of the questions the kids ask in the hopes of empowering everyone to enjoy a lovely and special Pesach.
“It’s too hard.”
Well, yes, it is hard but that’s the point. Matzah is called the bread of our affliction, not the bread of our comfort. We spend a week restricting our diet so we can remember what it was like to be slaves in ancient days and we restrict our diet to remember that there are people around us this very day who don’t have enough to eat and whose choices are limited because they don’t have enough. It is a challenge, yes, but a challenge we accept upon ourselves because it is good to learn the lesson again. It is good to stand up and make our teachings tangible.
“You want me to bring matzah to school (or work)?”
Yes, of course. We don’t have to hide what we do. We should be proud. Let’s let everyone know that we are eating matzah because we are celebrating a holiday and remembering our values. They’ll respect us for that pride. And don’t forget, the full weight of American law is on our side to celebrate our religion in whatever lunch room we choose. We have no reason to fear or be ashamed. Suggestion: bring extra matzah to school or work. People usually want to try some.
“It’s too complicated.”
Okay, you’ve got me there. The rules of chametz can be excruciatingly complex. Thanks to our more fervent co-religionists, there seems to be no end to the strictness Pesach brings and while this strictness may make sense to them, some of it just seems silly to us. But we are not them. We don’t have to celebrate like they do. We can celebrate in an authentic yet progressive manner. Let me break it down for you in manner that is consistent with Reform Judaism and our religious yet sane and modern sensibility.
There are five grains we are not to eat during Pesach if they are leavened: wheat, oats, barley, spelt, rye. You can eat them if they haven’t risen, obviously (like matzah). Let’s stay away from them and anything made with them.
Kitniyot is another category of rice, beans, legumes and such. Half the Jewish world doesn’t eat them during Pesach. The other half of the Jewish world does eat them. I suggest that we join that half. If eating rice and beans will make Pesach easier, then let’s do it. That includes corn. If you will eat corn, corn syrup, beans, soybeans, and such, then really, it’s not that complicated. It’s different but different is what we’re aiming for. Why is this week different from all other weeks? Because we are living out our values. Stay away from those five grains in all their forms and you’ll be fine.
“Rice? My bubbie would plotz.”
Yeah, I know. It’s not what she did and Jews are welcome to be more strict but if the choice is my suggestion versus eating as usual, I’m suggesting my way with all due respect to your bubbie.
“And the pots? I heard I need new pots.”
We’re back to your choice. How strict do you wish to be? The idea in the Torah and then amplified in the Talmud is that we were not to possess even a speck of chametz. The concern was that some chametz might stick to a pan or be in a crevice or something. To avoid that concern, Jews had a separate set of dishes and pots. Many Jews still do. I do but remember I’m suggesting a way to make things easier.
“But why?”
Well, there is that lesson of understanding oppression. Then there is a more personal, reflective lesson.
The word chametz is related to the Hebrew word for sour or spoiled. It refers to leavened products (anything with yeast), any grains that have swollen from contact with liquid (like pasta), and any crumbs lying around (like what’s in the back of your pantry). There is a spiritual, personal message when we see chametz as a metaphor. Pesach becomes an inner spring cleaning. Think of this way:
Chametz is a collection of things once good but now needing to be cleaned out.
Chametz is spoiled.
Chametz is sour
Chametz is puffed up.
Chametz has been sitting around a long time.
Chametz is full of (hot) air.
And we don’t want any of that.
Chag Sameach, everyone. Happy Passover. A sweet Pesach to you all filled with learning and meaning and fun.
