In The Throes of Pesach Prep

In the throes...or mebbe throws of Pesach prep, I am already exhausted. Physically, mentally, and probably even spiritually if I could even find my spiritness right now.

With my folks, it was always a two  party adventure: mom did all the cleaning and crying and yelling while dad shlepped boxes and provided the custom cut claycoat cardboard that covered the counters. The joys of working for a folding box company. But sprinkled amongst the groans, complaints, and knuckles-in-the-mouth, there was a fair amount of laughter, teasing, and an overwhelming sense of continuity: this is what their mothers and fathers did. 

And it was what this mother and father did. We had our jobs. Since we had massive counters in the house, Ziggy's job was to get the clear painters' drop-cloths from Home Depot, measure them precisely to fit the counters, then duck-tape those suckers down so they didn't freakin' move during the week of Passover. Yeah, there was yelling, complaining, and groaning, but man, did we laugh. Ziggy also mastered the rotary waxer to deal with our defective linoleum floor. Somehow, we always managed to wax ourselves into the wrong corner and then spent a whole lotta time freezing on the sun porch until we could to the buff coat. As someone who did not grow up with this meshugas, he was a committed partner in doing it right.

These days, my buddy Bill comes over to shlep for me. He is incredibly patient and even stands there while I vacillate about the number of plates I'm gonna use since I no longer cook the BIG seder meals. And then he always says, that's a lotta pots and pans for some who says she's not cooking. Oh, he's right about that but I cannot help myself. Just in case I have to....

Each year, we tell the story of the departure from Egypt in a way that includes everyone at the table. It's a special kind of participatory theater, every year the same basic script, the same props, the same traditions, while at the same time the story reflects the times and the people. No two seders are ever completely alike, even when the script is followed to the letter. 

This year, the war with Iran rages in Israel. Surely seders there will be interrupted by incoming missile alerts. Some seders may end up being held in shelters. But seders will be held and the story of leaving Egypt thousands of year ago to come back to our homeland will be told not just in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Haifa, Tzfat, Eilat, Beersheva, Ofakim, and every other city, town, kibbutz, moshav, or village but all over the world by Jews in China, India, Australia, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Paris, London, Vienna, Berlin, Stockholm, Oslo, Halifax, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Boston, Poughkeepsie, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C, St. Louis, Delray Beach, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Cheyanne, Denver, Taos, Phoenix, Las Vegas. Seattle, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Berkeley, Fresno, Sacramento, Oxnard, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Guam, Manila, Saigon, Tokyo....anywhere and everywhere that Jews live on this planet. We don't look alike, we don't always sing the same songs with the same tune, or even eat the same foods the same way....except for matzah, the bread of affliction. 

the one we use

Wherever Jews are gathered, we will tell the same story and we will ask Why is this night different from any other night? If you want to know the answer, click this link. It'll give you a whole list of free Haggadot available online. Read it. Learn what Jews teach our children. You might be surprised. Or not. Children just don't sit there....they are expected to participate as best they can in the retelling of the departure. When we say the ten plagues, we take a drop of wine from our glass to symbolize the lessening of our joy at obtaining our freedom. We understand that the Egyptians lost their first born sons, and many died in the closing of the Red Sea. 

The anointing stone at
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

We have never been immune to the pain of others. Their lives matter, too. As do all the lives in Israel, be they Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Baháʼí, or Pastafarian. Holy sites for all religions have been closed or with limited access not because the Israeli government doesn't want people to celebrate. Far from it. Jerusalem is currently being targeted by Iran and missiles are hitting the Old City. If you've ever been in the Old City, you know how narrow the street and how tightly packed the buildings are. The IDF limited access to protect the population, not prevent celebration. Imagine what would happen if the Church of the Holy Sepulchre took a direct hit during a crowded Easter service. Israel would be blamed for allowing in crowds when the danger was well known. Damned if the do; damned if they don't. There was no right decision to be had, so now limited numbers will be admitted. But think about this, too: the role of the Temple during Passover was central to the original celebration....and not even Jews are being allowed to be at the Western Wall. So understand it's everyone, not just non-Jewish participants. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

One of my politically savvy friends maintains, if someone tells you who they are repeatedly, you might want to believe them. 

Well, President Felon is really, really good at telling us who he is even when he claims to be making a joke. There was laughter when he said this in a Cabinet meeting on March 26, 2026, but was it really all a joke? From the Roll Call transcript

Our relationship with Venezuela has been amazing. The people -- actually, I'm the highest polling person. In other words, after the presidency, I think I may go to Venezuela and run for president against Delcy. I may run against Delcy. Uh, it's an option. No, I -- they like me in Venezuela. But, uh, it's an option for me. It's a wonderful option. Yes.

Maybe when he's done taking over Cuba.

The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week

Grandpa Moishe always gave us really old silver dollars 

for finding the afikomen. 

I saved all mine and they will go to the kids.

But if you don't have a roll of really old silver dollars,

I bet a 5-spot would work just fine.