I hope this finds you all doing well. We have been accomplishing quite a bit while confined [mostly] to our home. Unfortunately, our livestream last night did not work. We believe this is due to a surge of users after Shabbat ends. We hope to have a way to correct this for the next livestream. Please plan to join us!

Our newsletter will go out this week. Please go to LoveIsrael.org and subscribe if you have not yet done so. You will receive an email requesting that you confirm your subscription. Once you do that, you will be on the list.

Passover begins at sundown on April 8 on the Gregorian calendar. In Israel, the first day is a “Yom Tov” (treated as a Shabbat), whereas outside of Israel the first 2 days are treated as such. People are very upset because families and friends from various households will not be able to gather together for this most important first night, where the seder is celebrated. Our older daughter is not even allowed to come join us.

There are different themes relating to Pesach, and today I’d like to focus on one which relates to what probably most of us, especially the women, are thinking about now.  That is cleaning! This year, since we have been at home so much, we have been able to do an even more thorough cleaning than usual.

Part of this holiday entails cleaning all of the leaven (chametz) from our homes, cars (if you have one), and anything else that you own.  G-d mandated that there should not be any leaven in our possession during Pesach and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  Exodus 13:3-7  tells us this.

Chametz (leaven) is a literal thing but it also represents sin.  As we go through the process of cleaning, we should also be thinking about what sins in our lives need to be cleaned out.  Turned away from.  Repented of.

This is the beginning of a new season.  It can also be a new season for our lives and we can decide today, through prayer and G-d’s help, to turn from those sins which have had a hold on us and become a vessel for G-d to use to bring honor to Him, to further His Kingdom, and to be a blessing to others.

May your cleaning go well and may it remind you to do spiritual housekeeping in your own life.