Dear Friends,
This year, Passover offers a particularly poignant opportunity to think about the many millions of people throughout the world who searching for safety and security, because they are fleeing oppressive regimes, violence, or looking for freedom from the crushing burden of poverty and hopelessness. There are many excellent resources that can supplement the traditional haggadah, including T’ruah’s haggadah, The Other Side of the Sea. Perhaps at our Seder tables this year we can invite participants to share their own stories of parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents immigrating to this country; perhaps you can also extend an invitation to someone who is a new immigrant or seeking to become a citizen. As we eat matzah and other unleavened products, we can be reminded of the painful realities of those living in poverty or trying to reach safer places with little food or means along the way. Eating this way throughout the week of Passover can sensitize us to their plight, and remind us of our own abundance, and ability to share with others. From this perspective too, chametz can be seen as those parts of ourselves, our egos, that get puffed up from pride and a false sense of self and security. How fortunate we are; how much we have-relative to those who have so little. Perhaps we can give the amount we might otherwise spend on food this week to an organization that is supporting those who are current-day refugees. This year, the holiday challenges us to consider how we might be able to help others live in greater freedom. For an updated version of my annual Preparing for Passover, please click here. And do let me know if you’d like me to sell your chamatz, and/or if I can be of help/support to you in preparing for the holiday.

An early Chag Sameach!
Rabbi Zari
More planning information here