åçTake solace in that you are not alone in your struggles.
We’re all thinking of things that are annoying us/infuriating us as we prepare for Pesach. I’m going to do you the favor of making you feel justified in your indignation and in unity with other similarly-frantic preparing women. Here are my 10 things that are NOT working for me as I prepare for Pesach:
1. Not enough Pesachdik (kosher for Passover) baking dishes.
2. Pesach knife not sharp enough.
3. Husband not helpful enough.
4. Children not at all peacefully playing while I cook and I briefly contemplate doing something I have never done before: plopping them in front of a television. (I resist the urge.)
5. The quinoa insanity. Is it kosher for Passover or not? (Was it made in a kitniyot factory? Dried on the same rack as barley grains?)
6. Have to work today and tomorrow and need to be home cooking.
7. We get the day off for Good Friday but by then it’s too late to do all the main stuff I need to do.
8. Kitchen way too small.
9. My main platter I use to serve our famous Morrocan salad broke in the box it was being stored in.
10. Fantasy is just not matching reality
In conclusion, this list is by no means complete and I will mentally add things as the day goes on, and I will add things right up until candlelighting Friday night (I know I should be spiritually and mystically elated that Shabbos and Pesach coincide this year, but at this time of morning, I am just not feeling it).
In all fairness, I know that the deeper meaning of Pesach will find its way into my heart come Friday night. I will review the writings of Rabbi Akiva Tatz, and his reflections on the wheel of time working through us again and again, returning us again and again to the notion of freedom and bondage. And also, to the constant reminder of G-d’s hand in our lives, year after year, Pesach after Pesach, list after list.
Chag Pesach Kasher v’Sameach (Happy and Kosher Passover), and I hope to see you on the other side of frustration, in the land of freedom speedily in our days! L’shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim (Next Year in Jerusalem)!
MAYIM BIALIK IS A CONTRIBUTING WRITER TO JTA AND JLIFE MAGAZINE.