The Tisch: Pre-Passover prayers

As the festival approaches, “we inquire into and expound the laws of Passover”

By LEVI COOPER
A man with a matza kippa prays at the Western Wall (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
A man with a matza kippa prays at the Western Wall
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
There is a Jewish practice in the lead-up to Passover. We re-familiarize ourselves with the laws of the upcoming festival.
In the words of the sages: As the festival approaches, “we inquire into and expound the laws of Passover” (B. Pesahim 6a).
This is one of the goals of Drashat Shabbat Hagadol – the public sermon that is traditionally delivered on the Shabbat preceding Passover. The Talmud discusses when we should start this process, offering two opinions: According to the first opinion, we begin the annual review 30 days prior to the festival; according to the second opinion, we start two weeks before Passover.
Hassidic master Rabbi Menahem Mendel of Rymanow (1745-1815) explained that the term used by the sages for inquiring into the laws of Passover should be read as a beseeching, prayerful request, rather than merely asking a question in order to receive information.
Each person should ask, indeed beg, the Almighty before Passover for Divine assistance in keeping all the commandments of the holy festival.
As we all know, the challenges of preparing for Passover – in particular, ridding our homes of all traces of forbidden hametz – can be particularly taxing.
It is not just a spring cleaning; it is a religious obligation, and failure carries dire consequences. As we embark upon this task, we ask God for assistance.
Rabbi Menahem Mendel of Rymanow went a step further, explaining that the request is not just referring to physical hametz. Indeed, on a spiritual plane ridding our homes of forbidden hametz symbolizes the desire to rid our hearts of “hametz.” As Passover approaches, we hope to cleanse our souls of leavening agents that cause exaggerated self-importance.
Even a minuscule amount of haughtiness is to be discarded, for on Passover the smallest amount of hametz is forbidden. Faced with this spiritual task, we beseech the Almighty for assistance.
Rabbi Menahem Mendel therefore highlighted two levels of pre-Passover prayers: we ask for assistance in getting rid of physical hametz and we ask for assistance in getting rid of spiritual hametz.
I would like to highlight a third aspect that comes from the reading suggested by Rabbi Menahem Mendel. As the festival quickly approaches, we ask for help in fulfilling a central – but at times formidable – aspect of Passover.
We hope for Divine assistance in keeping the Passover commandments – but not just the hametz prohibitions that can sadly foment an overly obsessive attitude to the presence of dust particles.
We beseech the Almighty for assistance in fulfilling the positive commandment of sharing the Exodus experience with our children and initiating them into the Jewish collective memory.
The Passover responsibility to the next generation may be tougher than any menial cleaning. To be sure, the cleaning is often a thankless and unenjoyable chore, but with a little self-discipline we complete the task. In contrast, raising the next generation of bearers of Jewish tradition is a more challenging responsibility. It goes beyond teaching a child to stand on a chair and recite ma nishtana. The enterprise involves inculcating Jewish values, bequeathing pride in our heritage, and developing love for our tradition.
This mission requires thought, patience and investment. It is an undertaking that is furthered by a carefully thought-out strategy: How do we retain the interest of young people, when they are no longer excited to recite ma nishtana? How do we teach without stifling teenagers? How do we provide space, while offering guidance? Taking the reading of Rabbi Menahem Mendel in this direction suggests that as Passover nears we should ask for Divine assistance on three fronts.
First, we hope that the Almighty will help us get rid of any traces of physical hametz. Second, we pray that we can purge our hearts of any symbolic hametz.
Third, we beseech God for assistance in what may be the most challenging but important task: Passing on Jewish tradition to the next generation. 
The writer is on the faculty of Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and is a rabbi in Tzur Hadassah. He is currently a post-doctoral fellow with the Inter-University Academic Partnership in Russian and Eastern European Studies.