All about Crumbs (Physical and Spiritual)

by Miriam Metzinger | More from this Blogger

30 Mar 2009 07:38 PM

It's time to get out the brooms and the sponges and the Clorox! It's Pesach (Passover) cleaning time again. Of course, it is always good to do a spring cleaning (if in your part of the world, it is actually spring yet), but Pesach cleaning is another level altogether.

When I describe Pesach cleaning to people, I'm really reminded of what it is all about. The idea is to remove any trace of chametz (leavened products, such as bread, pasta, grains) from every corner of the house. While decluttering and getting rid of dirt is always a good idea, that is not the aim of Pesach cleaning. The commandment is against owning or consuming any bit leavened product (anything with yeast or baking powder that has risen. Or even anything that has the potential of rising. So that is why grains are also not allowed). Theoretically, a house can have dirt in the corners and clutter everywhere and still be kosher and clean for Pesach.

So it isn't garden variety cleaning. Just cleaning for crumbs. This is important to remember for those who are feeling a bit overwhelmed and feel the need to polish the light fixtures or get rid of old magazines. If it hasn't been a place where people have eaten or won't be a place people will eat for Pesach, it isn't worth sweating over (however, those with toddler can attest to finding a cookie sometimes in the oddest places.)

Believe it or not, there is also a spiritual dimension to all of this cleaning. According to Jewish mysticism, chametz (or leavening, the stuff we are trying to get rid of), represents ego (think if the way bread starts as just flat dough and then rises and rises). When we were delivered from slavery in Egypt, we saw wonders performed by G-d himself and were humbled by them. This humility represents the flat matzah that we eat for seven days. To prepare ourselves to leave Egypt on Pesach (Egypt represents person obstacles) we must get rid of any trace of ego so we will be open recipients for G-d's miracles.

May we merit that this year we will see miracles and wonders and delivered from the final exile by Mashiach (the ultimate Jewish Ruler).

Learn more about Miriam Metzinger

Miriam is a freelance writer, a work-at-home mom and lives in Jerusalem with her two sons, Schneur Zalman (3), Yosef Yitzchak (6 months and counting) and her husband, Yehoshua, who is a rabbi and i...

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