Passover

Passover

SHORT ESSAY: On Chametz and Spiritual Cleansing (Passover)

What are your spritual waste products, beliefs or ideas about yourself and the world that no longer serve you, that cause you suffering and stop you from turning to yourself in love? (Click image to read more)

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MEDITATION: Moving into “Merkhav Yah” — a Place of Expansiveness (Passover)

In this meditation, we explore the obligation to see yourself as if you personally left Egypt by understanding the leaving of Mitzrayim as the leaving of a narrow constricted emotional space and entering into merkhav Yah (based on Psalm 118 in Hallel), a place of divine expansiveness which is open and inclusive and welcoming of

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MEDITATION: Release and Renewal (Parashat HaChodesh, Passover and Parashat Bo)

The first commandment the Isarelites receive as a nation is to mark the new moon. In this meditation, we look at this commandment as an invitation to remember our own capacity for renewal. (Click image to read more)

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POEM: Yachatz (Passover)

We break the matzah in half, hetzi,because our hearts need to be broken open, pierced (as if by an arrow, a hetz),just a crack, enough for the winedrops of redemption to drip their slowfast way in and remake uswhole. It hurts — this breakingand our growing knowing of the broken.  We are opening to oni, to onlyto lack and

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QUICK THOUGHT: “Lehem Oni”:The Portal to Redemption (Passover)

What if it is the “poorest” parts of ourselves that are the doorway to redemption? On Pesach we eat lehem oni, the bread of poverty and affliction.   On Pesach, we hold up this flat meager bread and say  — this is it.  This is the portal.     We normally honor only our “good” or rich

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SHORT ESSAY: Relaxing into Trust on Seder Night (Passover)

How much do we control our own destiny? Particularly at times of uncertainty and anxiety, we hold on very tight. We try so hard to make things just right so that all will be well for ourselves, our families, our community and the world. Purim celebrates these efforts. On Purim we say what Mordecai said

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SHORT ESSAY: Dayenu = We Are Enough (Passover)

Dayenu. It would have been enough for us. It would have been enough for us if You had taken us out of Egypt but not also punished the Egyptians. It would have been enough for us if You had taken us out, but not also split the Sea for us. Dayenu. It would have been enough.

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SHORT ESSAY: Nothing After the Afikoman (Passover)

Our answer to the wise child of the Haggadah is: ayn maftirin ahar haPesach afikoman. “One adds no after-dinner revelry after eating the Passover sacrifice.” Normally, after the meal, we might have another mini dessert party. But not tonight. The mitzvah is to end with the Passover lamb. [In our seders today, of course, since we

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