A Note from Dassie’s Desk: Walking Through The Sea
Dear Parents,
Pesach is already upon us. The flutter of activity in our homes and in school is palpable every minute. When I returned from Australia (thank you to all of you who reached out with kind words of comfort; I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness), the school hallways were full of Pesach songs, art, and teachers scurrying around for ideas for sensorial activities to support their circle time themes. It put me in a good mood very quickly, even with the terrible jet lag!
It got me thinking about the ideas of Pesach that we want to internalize and bring into our lives, and I started making my list:
Going beyond our limitations and freeing ourselves from our personal boundaries
Having more faith in Hashem in difficult moments
The more rituals and family customs we do in detail, the more memorable the holiday and its meaning will become for our families. Relish the customs — don’t fret over them.
Remember that this holiday is about communicating to the children. “Tell it to your children,” the Haggadah states. Let’s take the time to engage in our children’s Pesach learning — sing the songs, go over their Haggadahs and projects, and tell them new things that spark conversation from their experiences.
Pesach is one of the three festivals. Don’t forget to buy something new for yourself and your children, and make some delicious food for your families!
The list can go on and on… add yours to mine!
There’s another thought I want to share with you regarding the miracle of the splitting of the Red Sea. This miracle is a highlight of our Jewish history, and we thank Hashem for this each and every day of our lives. Yes, it is a miracle that stood out in its grandeur. But why did Hashem choose to split the sea, as opposed to removing or drying up the sea altogether?
I think Hashem was letting us know that often in life, we come upon a challenge that looks insurmountable. We become paralyzed with fear and don’t know how to proceed. Hashem split the sea and made us walk through it. Not always will Hashem remove the challenge completely — but He will always help us walk through it and get to the other side.
Wishing each and every one of you a Chag Kasher V’sameach — a happy and kosher Pesach.
Dassie
