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Leah’s Blog Pesach 2025

Pesach – The bitter coated treasure 2025       –          Leah’s Blog

Tradition has it that we have collectively been sitting down to seder night for thousands of years. Our daughter in law, whose parents are from India and Yemen, as well as the mix that has flavored this family, all from around the world did the same seder centuries ago. What is the magic that calls to us to remember the great pyramids and the miracles of leaving? Codifying the Haggadah in the times of the Mishnah (complied in 20 C.E.) kept the tradition during a time Hellenistic culture raged, a time we were banished from our Land by the Romans. Forever the line, “Next year in Jerusalem” on our lips.

It was a bitter banishment from our Land and it sears into our memory. Lest we become too comfortable in exile- the seder imprints on a collective consciousness that Israel belongs in Israel.

Anyone coming to a seder for the first time would be perplexed at what goes on. Before the banquet of the seudah, a good stretch of time passes. Finally after breaking Matzah and making “Hamotzi” we eat maror (bitter herbs). Strange huh? Or not. As our souls are now in full charge of our hungry bodies, just a tad of harsh seals that part of the seder before the real eating begins. Our sages long ago taught us that the world is not a sugar coated place. We have to “rise above it”- through humble recognition that we are being rectified. From the very beginning we learn about the trials Abraham had to endure even when he was promised the Land, all of our forefathers have stories to tell of struggles in owning who they are. Many of our Matriarchs had to yearn and endure the wait until a baby finally came.

It is a long haul but it accelerates towards the climax of our story. Like now. Israel, like no other place is not “just” a property, it is a super natural place that you have to earn by personally leaving Egypt. When we are having a bitter moment and pass through the fire- as all of Israel did in the exodus- we are ready to celebrate life. Now too, pinch me- we are back after centuries that this land laid waste and no nation could make it fruitful.

In an age of bible criticism, warped ideas prevail, when prayer books are changed to even exclude Israel (yes- there are those), when Israel has become a bone to pick in Hellenistic circles, our old return to wine stained Haggadahs from the past are made to jolt in mind body and soul. Prior to Pesach, many of us boil out our everyday vessels, purging chametz from our pots and pans as the cleansing of nefesh and all of this hard work has us thinking- are we slaves or are we truly masters of ourselves, not letting other identities take over, rise and puff down over us squashing and conquering us. As we deflate internally, leaving no room for alter ego, a new season of budding begins in us. We have risen above it.

This Pesach we hope to witness the true return in all aspects to what Hashem wants from us as we have already entered this Land with so much more to do. We pray our hostages all come home and be able to sit at the table of complete redemption. Amen

“Let my people go!”

I want to personally thank all of those who have been so caring and supportive in our mission to get Pesach food to the needy all over the Shomron with a special thank you to Alan Hirsch and the Matzoh Fund for again pulling it off. Awesome!

Chag sameyach and Shabbat Shalom dearest friends! Xoxoxoxo BLESSINGS! Leah