Last Sunday morning BIAV had its second annual Bedikat Chametz Scavenger Hunt! Families with children ages 3 through fifth grade helped us search for Chametz around the building, and in the process they collected Chametz snacks and became more familiar with the different parts of the shul.
Younger children then decorated Pesach Helper aprons and played Pesach Bingo while the older children had a pyramid building competition. A great time was had by all! Yasher Koach to our Youth Director Tova Twersky and to volunteer Dara Granoff, and everyone who participated.
See pictures below!
On Shabbat I gave a shiur entitled How to Make the Seder Meaningful for the Entire Family, based on a novel approach to the Hagada by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon in his new Shirat Miriam Hagada.
In a nutshell, here is a summary:
The Maggid portion of the Seder is divided into four sections. Each section has a question portion, an “answer”/story, followed by praise. Each section conveys the message in a different way that relates best to the different types of people who may be at the Seder. The serious Torah student will be most engaged by the “Go and learn” section, whereas others are drawn by the tangible symbols on the table– Pesach, Matza and Maror. The story of physical redemption (“Avadim Hayinu”) is the most relevant for some, and for others it is the story of spiritual redemption (“Our forefathers were idol worshippers”).
We all get a taste of each of these during Maggid though we may consider, depending on who is around our Seder table, of how to focus the time and discussion. Follow this link for a chart from Rabbi Rimon’s Hagada for your reference:
On Shabbat morning I related the experience of panic of the Metzora upon finding the blemish to the panic and busy Erev Pesach time. Feeling overwhelmed can be counterproductive if it leads to paralysis. But if it leads to introspection and productive action, it can be life changing. The metzora must take time by him or herself to stop and figure out how to react to this new situation.
On Erev Pesach, amidst the busy planning, we should take a few moments direct our energies in a positive direction. Take a bit of time and read through the hagada, think about how to use the energy created and expending to prepare for Pesach to propel ourselves towards growth. And hopefully by the time Pesach arrives, we can experience the calm and satisfaction of freedom.
Looking ahead:
This Shabbat is Shabbat Hagadol. I’ll be delivering my Shabbat Hagadol drasha in the morning, at 11am, on the topic: “The Hedgehog ate My Matza” (title change since last week). The afternoon shiur will be given by Rabbi Schulgasser, entitled “The Bear was on fire”
If you have not done so yet, you have through Sunday to authorize me to sell your chametz. On Sunday morning we’ll also have Kashering available at the shul, from 9:15am-10:15am.
Reminder that we do Bedikat Chametz on Sunday night, after 8:30pm using a candle or flashlight.
