Spring Cleaning of Soul and Home

The concept of spring cleaning came from the Jews. It is a wonderfully renewing and revitalizing process. So as the blooms are starting to burst, and the earth literally rises once more to its prime, we mere mortals have a need to cleanse our souls and cupboards of the all the dust that has accumulated over the year. I am grateful for the gift of Pesach or Passover, that gives me the deadline and formal and religious sanction to get the house in order in every sense. And I am far from a clean or control freak.

Traditionally one starts immediately after Purim, going through rooms and cupboards. Assessing and sorting and throwing out. Windows, curtains and other heavy duty stuff is finally tackled, - those tasks that are usually put off for a rainy day. But now THE day has come. Of necessity, stuff relates to memories which are connected to times good and bad and hence the soul. The ability to let go of things and the associated feelings is so releasing. How can we move forward and allow more joy and considered choices into our lives if we don’t make space and clean out the drawers of our homes and lives.

In our search for meaning, fulfillment, beauty and joy in our lives, Pesach gives us a wonderful opportunity to reevaluate and focus on the areas that are important to us and rid ourselves of the chaff. To some, the idea of changing dishes and eating Matza seems ridiculous, why the bother? Why go to the trouble when you can clean at anytime? To me it is a celebration of life itself. The desire to renew, to revamp, is in us and the festival gives the structure and timetable.

The ability to make changes, to act on those, to do and eat different foods from different plates, I feel reinforces our humanity.