blogs/cantor-herschel-fox

This week's Torah portion, “Tazria,” speaks about laws of purification. Once I made a foolish comment, saying that “Tazria” was not my favorite Torah portion. A friend corrected me that every Torah portion is important and we learn a great deal from every Torah portion. As we approach Pesach, memories flood into my mind and heart, remembering Pesach in Winnipeg, Canada as a child.

My family had arrived from Poland. Thank God in Winnipeg the weeks before Pesach warm up and Pesach�"the holiday that takes place at springtime warms our hearts as well as our bodies.

During Pesach, we strive for a cleaning out of the chomets in a physical way, but we also try to spiritually purify ourselves. We try to clear the chomets out of our lives and experience the great Exodus from Egypt that our ancestors experienced.

I remember the preparations in Winnipeg for Pesach�"we cleaned out, not just the kitchen, but beds and carpets and garages and cars. It brought the family together! The night before Pesach, we kids couldn't sleep, because we got to try out our new shoes and new clothes the next morning�"the first day of Pesach.

With all my heart, I wish our entire congregation, as well as the Jewish people�"klal yisrael, a freilechn koshern Pesach�"a happy and kosher Pesach�"Chag Someiach!

Cantor Herschel Fox
e-mail: hfox@vbs.org