Oh My the Countdown to Passover – Plan and Prepare Now – Shop and Save
Oh My! The Countdown To Passover -- Plan & Prepare Now - Shop & Save!

Countdown
to Passover! It's Not The Last Minute - But It Will Be!!


Here
it comes...the Jewish holiday of Passover (Pesach) begins on April 4! and for many of us who
celebrate this extraordinary holiday commemorating the birth of the
Jewish people when they gained their freedom from slavery, we
experience the twin delight of the impending Spring Season AND the
Passover Seders (“Seder” translates to “Order” of Service)
and the week long holiday celebrations which follow. 


This
year, the First Seder of Passover falls on the Sabbath, Friday
evening, April 3rd..

This gathering of family and friends enables us to repeat the story
of the Exodus in our homes and heralds a week which infuses a
penetrating consciousness on everyday activities. By eating
unleavened bread which is devoid of the “puffiness” which yeast
creates, we remind ourselves annually that we, too, need to take a
step back and see to what extent we need to be more humble and less
“puffed up!”  


This
week-long substitution of matzah for bread centers around our most
basic need of eating for sustenance; it creates a bridge of reminders
at every meal to engage ourselves in a heartfelt self-analysis of
what we can do to live in the moment as the best of ourselves that we
can be. And we can only be our best selves if we are freed of the
hindering constraints under which each of us labor—the self-doubt,
the worries, the unfilled resolutions, etc. In fact, these meals
which contain no leavened bread, remind us of another basic human
precept: to live the Golden Rule—doing what is pro-actively right
and good and humble for ourselves so that we can reach out to others
and do right by them.

So
how to get ready for this intense, but amazing week-long holiday?
Planning! And more Planning!! Whether you are the household
conducting the Seder for family and friends or you will be a guest at
a first and/or second Seder, the following countdown list should
provide a meaningful guide...starting now!



A
Bit of Study. So
much has been written about Passover: the personal journey the
holiday can inspire--living fully and righteously in the moment for
your benefit and others; choosing a Haggadah booklet (a “Telling”
or “Narration”) which best meets your spiritual and inclinations;
the history of the holiday and how it pertains to us; how to prepare
and conduct a Seder; how to make a Seder especially kid-friendly
(including books and child-friendly Haggadot.) Take a look at these
sources and add a new, meaningful volume to your Passover collection
or start a brand new one! Suggested Haggadah Books:  
     The Artscroll Children's Haggadah ($10.79)
     The Night That Unites Passover... ($21.74) 
     The Szyk Haggadah: Freedom Illustrated ($34.99)
                                                                                                                              

Invitations.
If you are opening your home for a Seder or any of the meals for
Passover week, now is the time to consult your calendar, determine
the day(s) you will be hosting, develop your guest list, and get out
your invitations by phone, email, snail mail, carrier pigeon(!), ie.,
whatever it takes! Last minute invites add stress on everyone, so
this is a very important first step. Besides, knowing that you are
committed and that people are counting on you is a great incentive to
follow-through on the next steps!! Take a look at the following
sources to make the job a bit easier: Suggested Invitation and Greeting Cards:
     12 Multicolored Grape Greeting Card Designs - $26.95


Preparing
for Passover Meals: Tableware and Ceremonial Objects.
Passover is believed to be one of the first multi-media presentations
in history offered from one generation to another designed to tell a
story to children; in this case, the story of the Exodus. Clearly,
adults learn something every year, too, and are often inspired to
dress up and act out the story with their children as well as to
provoke discussions that are meaningful for both their peers and the
children in attendance. To enhance those experiences, the Haggadah,
the booklet which is the guide to the sequential parts of the Seder,
suggests certain ceremonial objects: a Haggadah for each person at
the table, Seder Plate, a Matzah cover, Plague Bags for the children,
a Matzah plate, a beautiful pillow case for the leader of the Seder,
wine/juice decanters and cups, a pitcher and bowl for hand washing
with a beautiful hand towel, lovely linens and 
tableware, Afikomen
gifts, etc. Do an inventory to determine what you will need to
acquire before Seder/Passover time, and arrange your schedule to
acquire the necessary items as soon as possible. Many are items which
will reflect the beauty you associate with the holiday and which you
will enjoy for years to come and may even be passed on as legacy
items. So invest yourself in the search and the purchase(s). In
addition to your local Jewish gift shop, there are so many remarkable
online sources for Passover objects made in the U.S. and Israel as
well as table linens. Take a look at these:




Menus.
Passover is a holiday of food! And more food! Despite the necessity
to substitute matzah for conventional bread products, foods adapted
to that constraint show up in bountiful measure. It's a holiday that
offers us the opportunity to create dishes of memorable renown

“expected” by our family as well as to infuse our menu creations
with the healthy Springtime bounty of vegetables and fruits. Consult
your Passover recipes, hunt the internet for new ideas, buy a new
addition to your Passover cookbook library—before you know it, your
mouth will be watering in anticipation!! Take a look at some sources
for classic and new cookbooks and interesting foodstuffs: 
                                                          New York Times Passover Cookbook ($20.69)
Joy of Kosher ($21.40)



Spring
Cleaning.
Because it is important to remove all traces of leavened products
(“chumatz”) from every corner of our homes before Passover
begins, cleaning one's house from top to bottom is part of the
(exhausting) ritual! So chunk the work down and commit to working
through your home room-by-room over the next 2-3 weeks. Pay special
attention to your kitchen to make it spotless and figure out your
seating arrangements in your dining area so you will have enough
chairs and table space for everyone. I find it helps tremendously to
place name cards for each person who will be at the table; this puts
you in control of the organized chaos by selecting tablemates who can
benefit from each other's conversation and places children
strategically for their enjoyment and the enjoyment of others at the
table! 
And
seriously consider exploring the world of eco-green cleaning
products; effective products that clean without noxious, harmful
fumes and residue that can attack your immune system and can drain
your energy. And the one thing you need now is as much of your
natural immune function energy that you can muster!! Take a look at
these sources to give your home the true cleanliness and freshness
that you and your family deserve! Try these Companies/Products:    



Showtime.
So give yourself a pat on the back when you get to this stage!! You
are ready to take on the work of being the best you can be now that
you are inspired by some Passover reading. Your guest list is
finalized. Your table is set and it looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Your Menu is
sure to please your family and friends. Your kitchen has had all the
equipment you needed to create your culinery masterpieces. And your
house sparkles with cleanliness—there is no “chumatz” anywhere
to be found!


And
so, from my family to yours, may you enjoy a meaningful Passover. And
whether spiritually or otherwise, hear closely the bit of wisdom and
yearning that closes out the Haggadah: “Next year in Jerusalem!”

This blog was prepared by Maxine Collin and Philip Eide - They hope you will share it with Family & Friends!



