Preparing your heart for Passover : a guide for spiritual readiness / Kerry M. Olitzky.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Olitzky, Kerry M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Passover.

Physical Description:

xx, 115 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia : Jewish Publication Society, 2002.

Summary:

Passover, the annual celebration and reen actment of the deliverance of the ancient Israelites from bondage, is one of the most revered holidays of the Jewish calendar. Rabbi Olitzky defines the observance not only as a religious and social ritual, but also as a spiritual journey, which is repeated and refined through the course of one's life.

Tradition has Jews purifying their homes before the holiday by removing hametz (foods containing leavening). Rabbi Olitzky helps us reclaim the spiritual nature of the preparations by proposing a cleansing of the soul. With the aid of soul searching and personal ritual, one can achieve a better understanding of faith and self.

The first part of the book deals with the preparations for the Passover seder, the ritual meal. The second part brings us to an even deeper understanding of the holiday, revealing themes of gratitude, of thankfulness to God for liberation, and of wonder at the miracles wrought during the Exodus. Together they bring very special meaning to this time of the year.

Contents:

1 Searching for the Hametz of the Soul 1

2 Ridding Ourselves of Hametz 6

3 Shulhan Arukh: Setting the Table 8

4 Kaddesh: Making Ourselves Holy 12

5 Urehatz: Spiritual Cleansing 16

6 Karpas: The Renewal of Spring 19

7 Yahatz: Finding What Is Lost; Mending What Is Broken 23

8 Maggid: Telling the Story; Telling Our Stories 26

9 Ha Lahma Anya: This Is the Bread of Memory 30

10 "Avadim Hayinu": We Were Slaves; Now We Are Free 33

11 The Four Children Within 35

12 God's Promises 38

13 Come and Learn: Experience Is Our Teacher 41

14 The Plagues 43

15 "Dayenu": When Is It Ever Enough? 45

16 Pesah: Making Sacrifices 48

17 Bi-'khol Dor va-Dor: In Every Generation 50

18 Rahtzah: More Cleansing 53

19 Motzi: Sustaining Body and Soul 56

20 Matzah: The Bread of Our Deliverance 59

21 Maror: Bitter Memories 62

22 Korekh: Adapting 65

23 Shulhan Orekh: Feeling Sustained 68

24 Tzafun: Finding the Hidden Self 70

25 Barekh: Giving Thanks for How Far We Have Come 73

26 Welcoming the Promise of Elijah 76

27 Hallel: Singing Songs of Praise 78

28 Nishmat Kol Hai: Every Soul Can Be Renewed 81

29 Nirtzah: Acceptance 83

30 Le-Shanah ha-Ba'ah be-Yerushalayim: Visions of Jerusalem 86

31 Anticipating Revelation: Moving from Passover to Shavuot 89

Personalities 101

Preparing the Seder 105.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 113-115).

ISBN:

0827607059

9780827607057

OCLC:

47930521