April 2025:

Passover and the Renewal of Spring

Passover is just around the corner and here in Oregon the cherry blossoms are blooming, and the gentle rainfall welcomes all the new flowers of spring. This is a time for renewal.

In some homes, the preparation for Passover will include a deep cleaning associated with removing all chametz. What is chametz? The short answer: leaven grains. The long answer: personal or communal traditions dictated by a family’s branch of Judaism, customs and cultural influences. 

Often, the process of removing the chametz inspires, requires, or coincides with a spring cleaning. It is a time to reassess the value and usefulness of things in our home, and on a broader scale, the things in our life. It is a kind of pruning; keep and clean those that are working and let go of those that aren’t.

I have always found it fascinating that an organism as remarkable and beautiful as a plant is unable to stop directing its resources toward a dead branch or leaf, to the detriment of its overall health. We then, the gardeners, are left to prune the plant and help redirect its reserves to the thriving parts, which in turn helps the plant grow and produce. Still, the plant also needs good soil, sunlight, clean air and water. How different are we from these plants? We need healthy food, sunlight, clean air and water.  And we sometimes put all our effort into things that are not good for our overall health.

At the Passover seder, we retell the story of our exit from Egypt. We learn about slavery, oppression, abuse, and the power to be freed by working together. Our exit required courage and resilience. It took time and great force to break from pharaoh’s rule. Life in the desert after was not easy, but we were free. Free to grow and direct all our efforts towards a better life.

Like a plant, it is often difficult to see or admit what isn’t working in your life. Like the search for chametz, it takes some deep digging and reflection to uncover all the “crumbs”. Yet, the work is worth the freedom, the possibility for renewal and the promise of all the beautiful blooms your garden can offer.

 Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Sarah Rensin

If you are in need of spiritual care, you can contact me at:

Rabbi Sarah Rensin
661-644-4614 (Mobile)
503-226-7079 x740 (Office)
rabbisarah@jfcs-portland.org

To read past blog posts, visit the Rabbi Rensin Corner archive here.