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Tradition, Inspiration and Celebration · April 2022 - Nissan 5782 ·

Published by Chabad Tucson

Rise of a leader 120 years since the birth of the Rebbe in Ukraine

Chapter 11 Declaring bankruptcy has been a blessing

Best kugel ever A must-try recipe from Feigie’s kitchen

Welcome to town Newest teacher at Lamplighter Day School

KEEPING

PASSOVER A guide for the most celebrated Jewish night of the year

ESSAY

The Rebbe taught me not to crush goodwill By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin The Jewish outreach and education network of Southern Arizona 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719

I waited in line with our father to get the Rebbe’s blessing. As the wait stretched on, my father tried to keep us kids — I was about five at the time — patient. He gave us each a quarter, assuring us that we could go to the candy store and buy gumballs if we waited patiently.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Rabbi Yossie Shemtov REBBETZIN

Chanie Shemtov OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Feigie Ceitlin Affiliates:

Cong. Young Israel, Chabad at the University of Arizona, Chabad on River, Chabad of Oro Valley, Chabad of Sierra Vista, Chabad Jewish Center of Vail and Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson

EDITOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin COPY EDITOR

Suzanne Cummins CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Feigie Ceitlin, Mira Fox, Nechama Golding, Shmuel Goodman, Menachem Posner, Eli Rubin, Mordechai Schmutter, Chana Weisberg, Benjamin Weiss PHOTOS

Cover photo: EsseKreative.com / @EsseKreative SPECIAL THANKS

Chabad.org EDITORIAL INQUIRIES OR ADVERTISING

Phone: 520-955-9680 Email: info@ChabadTucson

Keeping Jewish is published in print periodically by Chabad Tucson and is distributed free in Tucson and around Southern Arizona. Chabad Tucson does not endorse the people, establishments, products or services reported about or advertised in Keeping Jewish unless specifically noted. The acceptance of advertising in Keeping Jewish does not constitute a recommendation, approval, or other representation of the quality of products or services, or the credibility of any claims made by advertisers, including, but not limited to, the kashrus of advertised food products. The use of any products or services advertised in Keeping Jewish is solely at the user’s risk and Chabad Tucson accepts no responsibility or liability in connection therewith.

Note: “G-d” and “L-rd” are written with a hyphen instead of an “o .”This is one way we accord reverence to the sacred divine name. This also reminds us that, even as we seek G-d, He transcends any human effort to describe His reality.

As a child growing up in Montreal, my parents would periodically take my siblings and me to New York to see the Rebbe, the seventh spiritual leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, is the most influential rabbi in modern history, and he was (and remains) both revered and beloved. In the mid-80s, the Rebbe began accepting a “receiving line,” extending a holy blessing and handing a U.S. dollar bill to each person who waited to see him. The purpose of the money was to encourage his seekers to give charity. Thousands of people from all walks of life would descend on Brooklyn for this brief yet meaningful encounter with the Rebbe. One Sunday morning, my brother and

The line sped up before we knew it, and we stood in front of the Rebbe. The Rebbe gave my brother the usual blessing and a dollar. My brother should have continued walking to the exit. Instead, he took out the quarter my father had given him for candy and gave it to the Rebbe. I think my brother thought, “You gave me your dollar for charity, so I want to give charity with my money.” My brother’s sincere gesture was spontaneous and out of the ordinary, but the Rebbe took it very seriously. He signaled to an aide for a box to be brought — this carton was used for gifts brought by dignitaries such as books, plaques, keys to cities and the like — and motioned that my brother’s quarter be placed into this box. Observing the scene, I decided to do the same with my coin. Once again, the Rebbe asked for it to be placed in the special box. That 25-cent lesson still reverberates with me today. We live in a world that can seem cold and heartless. When someone decides to embark on a positive journey, there are

often voices that are quick to throw cold water on their efforts: what difference will your tiny action make? Nothing will really change — it’s just a drop in the bucket. But every drop makes a ripple, and every ripple builds a wave. When I was a child, the Rebbe taught me that when someone shows goodness of spirit, it should be encouraged and cherished. The Rebbe often quoted the Jewish philosopher Maimonides, who wrote that one should always view oneself and the entire world as equally balanced between good and evil. A seemingly small action or word can tip the scales to goodness, especially if it is cultivated and allowed to grow. The Rebbe showed my brother and me on that day that any good start, however small, deserves to be nurtured. The smallest good deed matters, even in the face of what seems to be overwhelming odds. Although I wonder what the Rebbe — born in Ukraine 120 years ago — would say about the current state of the world, I know what he taught me to do. I must do good, however much or however little is in my capacity. Even in the face of an overwhelming wave of human misery, we must do what we can.Because every small, positive action will add up and bring us much closer to a world saturated with goodness. - Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson

NEWS

War in Ukraine threatens matzah supply First anniversary of Keeping Jewish

By Mira Fox, Forward

Just over a year ago, the Jewish community in Tucson faced serious obstacles that impacted our ability to communicate with each other. The Arizona Jewish Post had stopped publishing the local Jewish newspaper while the Covid pandemic raged on and continued to isolate us.

Before the Holocaust, Dnipro, a city in eastern Ukraine on the Dnieper River, was home to tens of thousands of Jews. It had a rich Jewish history. But, during the Nazi occupation, the population plummeted from 80,000 to about 700, with at least 20,000 Jews murdered by firing squads. Others fled or were deported.

In response, Chabad Tucson began publishing “Keeping Jewish” in April of 2021. The monthly Jewish newspaper is mailed free to homes, businesses and independent living communities across Southern Arizona.

Dnipro has once again become a Jewish center. Boasting the largest Jewish community in Ukraine, it has been a triumphant symbol of resilience, representing the renaissance experienced by the Ukrainian Jewish community despite Nazi and communist attempts to annihilate it.

“Since its inception, the feedback has been heartwarming. We continued to publish the paper monthly to a growing list of appreciative subscribers,” said Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, Executive Director of Chabad Tucson. Each issue typically features inspiring essays, informative articles on Jewish life and practice, a profile about an interesting individual or subject, humor, trivia, historic overviews of Jewish communities and short interviews with new residents in town.

Dnipro’s Menorah Center, an enormous building shaped in seven towers after the eponymous candelabra, is the largest Chabad center in the world and houses the largest Holocaust museum in the former Soviet states. It also houses mikvahs, kosher restaurants and wedding halls. The city produces nearly all of the shmurah matzah — a handmade version of the unleavened bread preferred by more observant Jews — for the former Soviet world. It also supplies shmurah matzah to Western Europe and the U.S. Now, however, with Dnipro hit by Russian missiles, Jews (and non-Jews) may once again be forced to flee the city, ending its Jewish renaissance and possibly impeding religious Jewish Passover observance throughout the former Soviet world. This is particularly an ironic fate given Putin’s false assertion that his attack on Ukraine is necessary to fight Nazis and antisemitism. Dnipro’s Jewish population has a history of conflict with Russia over matzah specifically. The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, moved to take control of kosher supervision over the matzah when he was chief rabbi of the city. Up until that point, and until Ukraine’s emancipation from the USSR, the Russian government had overseen matzah production in Dnipro. The move to impose tighter religious standards on the matzah was controversial and eventually resulted in the elder Schneerson’s deportation “for strengthe-

Within a year, Keeping Jewish has already garnered international attention. The article about the Al Basha Grocery on Grant Road, which is owned by a Muslim couple and sells kosher products has been republished by the JTA news agency, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post and The Forward. It also inspired an episode of the online video series Tripping Kosher. Here are some of the congratulatory comments sent in honor of the first anniversary of the newspaper: Congratulations on a wonderful and informative publication. -Dr. Murray Fox Factories in Ukraine account for about 15-20% of the market share in the U.S. for shmurah matzah. (Courtesy of Meyer Stambler)

ning Jewish observance under communism.” In recent times, the Ukrainian bakery has exported well over 70 tons of handmade matzah each year, and has done so despite previous conflicts with Putin. But Dnipro had not been bombed in previous conflicts. Baking was actively underway in early March, as evidenced by a Facebook video making the rounds in Chabad groups, but that was before Russian missiles started falling on the city. It’s unclear if the Ukrainian matzah will be available to those who need it this year — a post on Reddit bemoaned the fact that a store in Monsey, N.Y. didn’t have any in stock and wasn’t expecting to receive a supply. We don’t have any information about the availability of the matzah in the Soviet Union or the other former USSR countries that have depended upon it.

In Arizona, a pallet of shmurah matzah from Dnipro arrived at Chabad Tucson on Monday, March 28. It was from the two shipping containers carrying matzah that left the port in Odesa, Ukraine on February 24. Russia had invaded Ukraine just two hours before these matzahs were loaded onto a ship. No more shmurah matzah has left Ukraine since the containers that carried this pallet were sent. It is quite a miracle that we have this shmurah matzah here in Tucson. It is the matzah Chabad will provide to families who purchase seder meals prepared by Rebbetzin Feigie Ceitlin. For others who find it meaningful to get this specific shmurah matzah this year, some boxes will be sold by Chabad and the proceeds will directly benefit the producers in Ukraine. “In this time of sadness, we are mindful of this extraordinary blessing,” said said.

Thank you for publishing this much-needed newspaper. It is vital for us to have a means of communication that will keep our community together. Mazel Tov! -Rob and Rita Davidson Thank you Rabbi Shemtov for always anticipating whatever our community needs. I do enjoy reading “Keeping Jewish.” Mazal Tov! -Simone Hyams Another positive and appreciated Chabad contribution to the Jewish community that I look forward to receiving. -David Steinberg Keeping Jewish is a bright light every month and reflects our good Jewish life in Tucson. I enjoy reading it so much. -Renee Geffen We appreciate this publication and the feeling of connection that it gives. -Marianne Langer Copies of the newspaper are available for pick up at Chabad centers in Southern Arizona, Al Basha Grocery on Grand Road, Coffee X Change, and Handmaker Jewish Services For Aging. For home delivery, visit ChabadTucson.com/SubscribePrint. To donate and say Mazal Tov, visit https://www. chabadtucson.com/5474992 or mail a check to Chabad Tucson - Keeping Jewish, 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719.

TRIBUTE

The childhood of a leader

Mykolaiv in the early 1900s. Inset: The Rebbe before his third birthday in the days leading up to his first hair-cutting (JEM)

Education Day USA marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe Tuesday, April 12, 2022, will be proclaimed by President Joe Biden as “Education and Sharing Day, USA” in recognition of the crucial importance of an ethical and moral education. This national day is timed to correspond to the 11th of Nissan on the Jewish calendar, the birthday of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, who brought a new emphasis on education to the forefront of public discourse.

President Biden follows the previous seven presidents—from Jimmy Carter to Donald Trump—when he issues the proclamation marking Education and Sharing Day for 2022. Since the day’s inception, states, cities, and localities have likewise designated the Rebbe’s birthday as Education Day. Governor of Arizona Doug Ducey has proclaimed the day as the state’s Education Day. The Rebbe, the seventh spiritual leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement,

is considered to have been the most consequential Jewish personality of modern times. To hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of sympathizers and admirers around the world, he was — and still is, despite his passing in 1994 — “the Rebbe,” undoubtedly, the one individual responsible for stirring the conscience and spiritual awakening of world Jewry. The following is a biographical overview of his childhood written by Eli Rubin: The Rebbe was born on Friday, April 18, 1902 (Nissan 11 on the Hebrew calendar) in the Ukrainian town of Mykolaiv. His father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, was a scholar steeped in both Talmudic and Kabbalistic learning. His mother, Rebbetzin Chana, was an astute and aristocratic woman and the daughter of the city’s rabbi. Socially and politically, these were tur-

bulent times, and the Jews were subject to persecution and pogroms. Rebbetzin Chana later recalled her young son’s presence of mind during the Nikolayev pogrom of 1905: “My children and I, together with other mothers and children, hid in a pharmacy. As is normal during chaotic times, the children cried a lot. The pharmacist was fearful that the noise would expose him for sheltering Jews, placing his own life in danger. My then three-year-old son walked around the room and quieted all the children. This was a remarkable scene. We could not talk because voices could be heard outside, so he silently motioned to them and gestured with his hands to keep quiet, calming each child in a different manner.” In 1909, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was appointed as rabbi of Yekatrinislav (present-day Dnipro), a large urban center whose Jewish community was tens of thousands strong. Though he was offi-

cially the Chassidic rabbi, he earned the respect of the city’s other rabbis. He was universally respected among Jews of all stripes, including those who initially opposed his appointment. The welcoming grace that the Rebbe characteristically extended to people from all walks of life reflects the formative influence of his father’s leadership. Later, during the Soviet period, when the other rabbis had either passed away or left the country, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak remained as the sole rabbi of Yekatrinislav. He was later arrested and exiled to Kazakhstan by the Stalinist regime as a result of his work to preserve Jewish life in the Soviet Union. Among the Rebbe’s classmates in Yekatrinislav was his cousin, Avraham Shlonsky. Avraham’s younger sister, Verdina, later described the atmosphere in Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s home as distinctly regal. The Rabbi and his wife were “like a

TRIBUTE

The Rebbe before his third birthday in the days leading up to his first hair-cutting (JEM / “Early Years 1902-1929”)

The Rebbe reunites with his mother Rebbetzin Chana in Paris in 1947 after the Second World War

The Rebbe listen to a young girl outside 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn on October 24, 1986 (Levi Freidin / JEM)

The Rebbe blesses a group of boys at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn on February 17, 1991 (Chaim B. Halberstam / JEM)

king and queen - so beautiful, aesthetic, musical and pure...” She was “beautiful, elegant and sociable,” he was “majestic and handsome,” and their children too were “all beautiful and pure.” According to both Shlonsky siblings, the doors and windows of the Rabbi’s home were wide open to the world, and yet it remained a bastion of Chassidic piety. Verdina remembered the oldest boy in particular as “a quiet child, with a high forehead, a serious face, and luminous bright eyes... interested in everything.”

education, the Rebbe taught, is to direct this innate conviction toward its proper expression. Nothing is without significance. Everything has a real, even cosmic effect. As grounds for absolute responsibility, rather than absolute entitlement, the self-centered vision of a child is something for every adult to emulate. As the sages taught, “Every person is obligated to say: For my sake was the world created.”

A story is told about the Rebbe’s early life that seems to be almost symbolic of everything that was to follow. When he was nine years old, the young Menachem Mendel courageously dove into the Black Sea and saved the life of a little boy who had rowed out to sea and lost control of his small craft. That sense of “other lives in danger” seems to have dominated his consciousness; of Jews drowning in assi-

milation, ignorance or alienation—and no one hearing their cries for help: Jews on campus, in isolated communities, under repressive regimes. From early childhood, he displayed a prodigious mental acuity. By the time he reached his Bar Mitzvah, the Rebbe was considered an illuy, a Torah prodigy. He spent his teen years immersed in the study of Torah. This child would grow up to become the Rebbe, a leader who saw in the bright eyes of every child the potential to change the entire world for good. Children, the Rebbe observed, have a strong sense of themselves as the center of the universe. They are convinced that everything and everyone, including their own parents, exists only to serve them. Self-centeredness often has negative implications. But the Rebbe emphasized its positive essence: the sense that every individual plays an absolutely central role in the purpose of creation. The purpose of

From the start of his leadership, the Rebbe insisted that the future of the Jewish people lay in the hearts and minds of children and youth. Many of his initiatives were specifically directed at children, inspiring them as individuals and empowering them to inspire their peers and elders. In 1980, the Rebbe encouraged the establishment of Tzivos Hashem - “The Army of Hashem,” a children’s organization with a mission to bring redemption to the world. Several times a

year, he addressed special children’s rallies. He spoke to them in their language with utter seriousness, expressing his regard for them as full-fledged participants in the great scheme of human life. The persecutions that the Rebbe experienced in his own childhood did not crush his sense of self, but informed his determination to forge an incalculably better tomorrow. “From the day I went to school, and even earlier than that,” he later wrote, “a vision of the future redemption began to form in my imagination the redemption of the Jewish people from their final exile; a redemption through which all the torments of the exile, the persecutions and the massacres, would be understood…” Ultimate redemption, the Rebbe concluded, will liberate us from the constraints of human perception through the disclosure of inconceivable good.

JUDAISM 101

Things to know for Passover 2022 Photo: EsseKreative.com / @EsseKreative

By Menachem Posner Passover is a Jewish holiday, whose ce‑ lebration includes purging our homes of chametz—anything containing or made from grain that has risen. Also known as Pesach, this holiday lasts for 7 days in Is‑ rael and 8 days in the Diaspora. During Passover, we eat matzah, flatbreads that are deliberately baked so quickly that the dough has no time to rise.

What are the most important days of Passover?

Each day of Passover is important, and we do not eat chametz for the duration of

the holiday. The first two days, however, along with the final two days (with each “day” begin‑ ning the evening prior) are observed as yom tov, when “work” is forbidden and technology is eschewed, almost like on Shabbat. On the first two nights of Passover (just the first night in Israel), we hold a Seder, a festive meal, during which we follow a program known as the Haggadah, eat matzah and maror (bitter herbs), drink four cups of wine (or grape juice), and re‑ tell the events of the Exodus.

What happened during Passover?

The first night of Passover is the anni‑ versary of the Exodus, when the nation of Israel (today known as the Jewish people) left Egyptian slavery. They were led by Moses, who had been chosen by G‑d to bring 10 plagues upon Egypt, for‑ cing Pharaoh to free the Israelites.

What is Passover in the Bible? In the Book of Exodus, we read the story of Moses leading the people out of Egypt, and how G‑d commanded that Passover be observed every year from then on by ea‑ ting the Passover lamb together with mat‑ zah and maror (bitter herbs).

On Passover eve, the Jewish people sheltered in their homes, eating the Pas‑ In the latter books of the Bible, we read sover sacrifice—a roasted kid (goat) or how Passover was celebrated in the days lamb—together with matzah and bitter of Joshua, King Solomon, King Hezekiah, herbs. King Josiah, and again under Ezra and Nehemia. That night, at midnight, G‑d brought the 10th plague, the death of the first‑ The Passover celebrations continued borns, and Pharaoh finally agreed to re‑ throughout the Second Temple era, until lease the People of Israel. the Temple was destroyed by the Romans after more than 400 years.

JUDAISM 101 These days, Passover Seders conclude with participants calling out “Next year in Jerusalem!” with heartfelt prayers that the Temple be rebuilt so the Passo‑ ver sacrifice can be brought once again.

Important Passover times Times listed are for Tucson, AZ

When is the first Seder in 2022? The first night of Passover is April 15. The second night of Passover, on which Jews in the Diaspora also hold a Seder, is April 16, after nightfall.

Thursday, April 14 Search for chametz after 7:20 PM Friday, April 15 - Eve of Passover Eat chametz by 10:10 AM Burn chametz by 11:10 AM Light candles at 6:36 PM First Seder night

What day is the Passover meal eaten? The Passover meal is eaten on the first night of Passover, and again on the se‑ cond night in the Diaspora (outside of Is‑ rael). See above for when that is.

Shabbat, April 16 - First day of Passover Light candles after 7:32 PM Begin counting Omer Second Seder night

What’s the point of Passover and why is it important? Passover is the first of the annual fes‑ tivals that G‑d gave the Jewish people, together with Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and the weekly ho‑ liday of Shabbat. It is unique in that G‑d commanded it even before the people had left Egypt. Even while they were techni‑ cally under Egyptian bondage, G‑d told them (through Moses) to celebrate Pas‑ sover on a yearly basis, remembering His kindness in freeing them from Egypt to become His special people, ambassadors of goodness and morality on earth.\

Sunday, April 17 - Second day of Passover Holiday ends at 7:33 PM Thursday, April 21 Light candles at 6:40 PM Friday, April 22 - Seventh day of Passover Light candles at 6:41 PM Shabbat, April 23 - Eighth day of Passover Holiday ends at 7:38 PM

What is the Passover story?\ The Sedder Plate

The Passover story, as recounted every year at the Seder, tells how the people of Israel were suffering in Egypt where they had been tricked by Pharaoh into becoming slaves. G‑d “heard their cries” and sent Moses to free them. Pharaoh initially refused, but after suffering through 10 plagues (starting with blood in the Nile and ending with the death of every Egyptian firstborn), on Passover eve, Pharaoh begged the people to leave. One week later, as the people camped at the banks of the Red Sea, Pharaoh had a change of heart and chased after his erstwhile slaves. A miracle happened and the sea split, allowing the Israelites

to trek to safety, drowning their Egyptian pursuers. Fifty days later, as the people stood around Mount Sinai, G‑d established His covenant with them, taking them as His chosen nation.

What is Passover food? The most important element of Passo‑ ver food is what it does not contain: cha‑ metz—anything containing or made from grain that has fermented or risen. This chametz‑free food is referred to as kosher for Passover. On Passover eve, it is a mitzvah to eat

matzah, flat unleavened “breads,” which remind us of the humble food our ances‑ tors ate during their Egyptian slavery, as well as how their bread had no time to rise before baking as they hastily mar‑ ched out of Egypt. At the Passover table, the matzah is placed on the Seder plate, along with five other symbolic foods: bitter herbs (ro‑ maine lettuce and/or horseradish, which recall the bitterness of slavery), charoset (a paste that reminds us of the mortar used by the slaves on Egyptian building projects), as well as an egg and roasted‑ shank/chicken neck (each of which sym‑ bolizes one of the sacrificial animals our ancestors would have enjoyed during this

meal in Temple times).

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Today the two terms (Chag HaPesach and Chag HaMatzot in Hebrew) are used interchangeably. Technically speaking, however, Passover (Pesach) refers to the animal that was sacrificed and eaten on the first night of the holiday, thus named because G‑d “passed over” (“pasach”) the Israelite homes while bringing death to the Egyptian firstborns on the very first Passover eve in Egypt. Conversely, Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) is the name of the entire seven (or eight) day holiday.

HUMOR

Passover cleaning guide (you’re welcome) Start late, consider making Aliyah and have some schnapps handy By Mordechai Schmutter It’s never too early to start thinking about cleaning for Passover. I would consider myself somewhat of a cleaning expert. My house isn’t the cleanest, but I’ve definitely spent thousands upon thousands of hours thinking about cleaning. It’s just the math, at this point. And that brings us to Passover. A lot of people get stressed out by the thought of cleaning their entire homes, so they look for advice on how to do it. Consider the crowd that showed up for “Sunday with the Organizer Fairy,” which Chabad Tucson hosted with professional organizer Malka Rodal this past month. So since thinking about cleaning is way more up my alley than actually cleaning, I am here to add perspective about that. For starters, many rabbis say that most of the things we do to clean for Passover have nothing to do with the holiday. For example, they point out, getting rid of clothes that no longer fit our kids and passing them on to a neighbor who just finished going through her kids’ closets has nothing to do with Passover. I’m not sure they’re right. On the very first Passover, when everyone left Egypt, there was no way they were schlepping things that they knew for a fact their kids weren’t going to wear anymore.

When to start worrying about cleaning is up to you, but actually, cleaning itself should be put off until the last minute. If you clean early, you are possibly wasting your time because, technically, you don’t even know if you’ll be home for Passover. What if Moshiach comes before then, and we all fly to the holy land of Israel? You will feel like an idiot because you just spent several months cleaning your house in the States. FYI: This is one of the main reasons people keep making Aliyah right before Passover.

A classic Jewish deli sandwich (photo: Mig Gilbert / Creative Commons)

Also, you clean all the time anyway. At this point, you’ve spent several years of your life dusting and vacuuming and wiping things. And people. So why not just go with the flow? Of course, if you start right now, and you do one room a day, before you know it, you’ll get to start all over again from the first room because your kids believe that the only way to eat cookies is while running through the house, making sure crumbs are projectiles to be launched into every corner. In every room. If you are stressed about doing the whole house, maybe you just have too many rooms. Maybe it’s time to downsize. Or maybe you should just finish up all your chometz. You can always buy more when you run out.

“But how do we start cleaning?” you ask. I have thought a lot about this. The best way to start is to get some cleaning supplies. Here are some things you need: -SPONGES: You want a sponge that has a soft side and an abrasive side. Never use the soft side. The abrasive side works better. Using the soft side would be like getting a fork and then picking things up by poking them with the handle. -MICROFIBER CLOTHS: You know those little cloths that came with your glasses that you lost the day after you went to the optometrist? Use those to clean surfaces that are like 2 inches by 2 inches. -ALCOHOL: Make sure you have lots of this on hand when you start to clean. I

generally substitute schnapps. -and last but not least, TOOTHPICKS: Toothpicks are great for getting into those hard-to-reach cracks and then snapping off in those cracks, and then using another toothpick to try to get the sliver of the first toothpick out of those cracks, which is why they come in packs of 500. I have a handy toothpick holder in my house, and it has a hole on top the size of one toothpick. You just turn it over and shake it, and nothing comes out. Then you shake it again, and nothing comes out. Then you shake it one more time, and you get eight toothpicks. But the main thing is to worry and think about cleaning without adding a lot of stress. This brings me back to the other use for the schnapps...

REBBETZIN’S KITCHEN

Best potato kugel ever By Feigie Ceitlin INGREDIENTS: 5 lbs potatoes 7 eggs 1 medium yellow onion, grated 3 small zucchini 1/2 cup oil Salt and pepper to taste (be on the generous side, zucchini and potatoes take quite a bit to be salty) DIRECTIONS: * Preheat oven to 450 degrees (very important) * Peel all of your vegetables and then grate in a food processor (use the grate disc). You are welcome to use a handgrated, but it will hurt. (To make the best buttery yummiest potato kugel ever, you’ll need to work fast from this part:) * Remove all of the grated vegetables from the food processor into a bowl and replace the grating disc with the “S” blade. * Pour oil into the 16x10 baking pan and put it in the oven to pre-heat. * Return all the veggies to the food processor along with spices and eggs until completely blended. * Remove pan out of the oven and carefully pour the oil into the veggies and mix well. * Pour batter into the pan and bake for 45 minutes. Final note: If you aren’t a zucchini fan, I still recommend adding it. It will keep the potatoes from darkening and will give the kugel a buttery texture (without the zucchini taste). *

The blessing on vegetables: Ha’Adamah “Fruits of the ground” include vegetables, legumes, peanuts, and the “fruit” excluded from the ha-aitz blessing abo-

Courtesy of Esty Wolbe/cookingwithtantrums.com

ve: melons, bananas, pineapples, some berries. On all these, make the “ha-adamah” blessing: Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei pri ha-adamah. Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe who creates the fruit of the earth. Bon appetit! — Feigie Ceitlin is the program director of Chabad Tucson

PASSOVER

What to expect at a Passover Seder A Seder table setting, commemorating the Passover and Exodus

By Nechama Golding So you’ve been invited to share a Seder—the ritual-rich evening that is the highlight of Passover, the Festival of Freedom—with an observant family. You might be familiar with some of the highlights of the Seder: the Four Questions that the children sing; the Seder plate, laden with ceremonial foods; the four cups of wine; the matzah and bitter herbs; all in some way related to the story of how a small group of slaves escaped Egypt’s borders to become the Nation of Israel… Or it might all be totally new to you.

In either case, don’t worry. Firstly, your hosts will guide you and tell you anything you need to know. Secondly, at the Seder, you will receive a small book, called the Haggadah, that contains the instructions and text for all 15 steps of the Seder, and you will have plenty of time to peruse it as the night progresses.

If you are curious or you’d like to be better informed before you come, you will find our Passover section helpful, but you certainly do not need to study up before attending. That said, here are a few insider tips that will allow you to better allow you to enjoy the night ahead: Tip #1: Expect a late night. The Seder will not start until everyone has returned home from the evening prayer service, which itself will not have started until after sunset. By the time the Seder itself commences, it might be in the neighborhood of 9 p.m. or later, depending on what time sunset was that day. The Seder can continue till well after midnight in some families. Tip #2: Don’t come too hungry… Aside from a few cups of wine or grape juice (and a piece of onion or potato dip-

ped in saltwater), no food will be served till pretty late in the game. The word seder means “order,” and central to this evening is a very exact schedule of steps. The step of reading and discussing the story of the Exodus, which takes up the bulk of the Haggadah, comes before the steps of eating matzah and bitter herbs (maror), and it is only after eating these ritual foods that participants enjoy a free-style feast. Your hosts WILL feed you… just not right away! Tip #3: Be ready for a text-based evening. The Seder is a very text-centric night, as participants keep a Haggadah close at hand throughout. Many books are printed with an English translation, but there is still likely to be a lot of Hebrew buzzing around you. Some families will get more gung-ho with discussing the text freestyle, while others may at times choose to recite parts of the text with little discussion. Some families will enter into the singing of songs with gusto, while in others the singing may

be a sideline… In any case, relax. No one is expecting you to suddenly know another language. (A little secret… those little kids reading the Hebrew words so fast? They might not know what all the words mean either.) The core of the Seder text is the asking of questions and the answering of answers. Try to follow as best you can, but if it is difficult, feel free to read along at your own pace and consider the meaning of what you are reading. Any questions you have, feel free to ask. That is truly what the Seder is about. And don’t worry. Anything you really need to know—like if it’s time to get up and head to the kitchen to wash your hands yet again, but this time with a blessing, or to drink another cup of wine—your hosts will tell you. Tip #4: …but be ready to eat When it is time to eat matzah or maror,

VOICES

When life buries you

By Shmuel Goodman The year was 1987, and life was booming. I was living in Bexley, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, with Sharon, my wife of two years, and a new daughter, and loving my work. As the president of Youthland, a children’s clothing chain founded by my parents, I had been steadily focused on expanding the business and had been able to build it into a bustling chain of 42 stores, spread over 10 Midwestern states. I was earning a great livelihood, and life was good. We bought a gorgeous house; I drove a beloved BMW, and I was president of my local synagogue. Sharon and I felt well connected in the Bexley community, and we imagined we’d be living in Columbus forever. Or so we thought. For many years, operating small clothing stores had been a growing and profitable business. Regional malls were booming, and independent retailers rode the wave. Youthland had a strong and unique brand, and I envisioned growing our company to at least 100 stores. But as I have since come to learn, nothing lasts forever. It wasn’t long before large retail chains like Kids “R” Us and Gap for Kids moved into the market, and it became virtually impossible for our comparatively minuscule operation to com-

Photo: Melinda Gimpel / Unsplash

pete. We tried to slash prices to stay relevant, but that did not help. Quarter after quarter, we continued to lose money. Ultimately, the only sensible option was to file for bankruptcy. Declaring Chapter 11 for my family business was beyond humbling. We had two children and a third on the way. I felt as if my life was crumbling. I was unsure of what lay ahead, and I was deeply worried. What would I do? How would I support my growing family?

It was during this brutal period, marked by desperation and fear, that I first began to see the hand of G‑d. Years later, after much self-examination and study, along with the clarity of time, I came to understand that declaring bankruptcy was simply part of a process. In fact, it was a blessing. That time of desperation was an important leg of a journey that allowed me to become the man I am today. I sometimes compare myself and my journey to that of a seed. A seed is not pretty. It is small, undeveloped, and temporarily stuck in the ground. However, if fed by water, it will blossom and grow. The seed can even become a large and beautiful tree, bearing gorgeous fruit. If the humble and sunken seed, “trapped” in the soil, had never been watered and nurtured, none of the eventual fruit would have been possible. The “water” in my life was Torah and Judaism. There is a mystical dimension of the Torah, called Chassidus, and it explains that a man cannot be complete without true humility. This virtue is called “bittul” and the literal translation is “self‑nullification.” Bittul does not dicta-

te that one should have no ego, but that one’s ego should be tempered. I think of it as a “healthy” or “appropriate” ego. A healthy ego is when one has enough selfawareness not to be trampled on. Chassidus uses the example of a broken heart. Only when a heart is broken, can it then become truly whole. In my life, loosing my business was truly a “bittuling” experience. In hindsight, I realize that I was just a seed planted in the ground, one that needed “watering,” every day. For me, that meant doing my part to serve G‑d. There are moments in life now where I actually do feel like a tall and majestic tree that bears fruit and “feeds” others. And for this I am grateful. But I never forget that I was once a seed, underdeveloped and unseen, sunken deep in the ground. I also never forget the people who reached out and supported me through that humbling time in my life. - Shmuel (Steve) Goodman is an investment advisor who lives in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife, Sharone. They have four children and many grandchildren.

VOICES

So, how come you never call?

Photo: Tim Mossholder / Unsplash

By Chana Weisberg

that nk of A few weeks ago, I visited my homego. A town to attend the wedding of a dear self- friend’s son. I met several old friends Chas- whom I had seen intermittently over the eart. years. then One chided me for not being in touch to share some of the major events—celewas brations or otherwise—that I had experienced over the years. We spoke about hindhow fast-paced life is and how difficult it seed is to find time to reconnect. neethat But as I thought about it, there was more to it. Though some people process their emotions externally through here others, others do so more privately. Theestic re are times when we need to process hers. our emotions internally, (joyful or sad) before we can reach out to share our exnever periences with others. erden the Over the last few years, due in large eople part to the research of Susan Cain on the me topic of introversion, we have learned as ife. a society to appreciate this difference. We have at least increased our awaretment ness that all of us are unique and have th his different coping mechanisms —and that this is all alright. n and Interestingly, the Torah’s laws of mourning demonstrate great sensitivity to the varying needs of individuals who

have suffered loss. When visiting a person who is sitting shiva, the seven-day mourning period after the loss of a beloved, we remain quiet until the mourner initiates conversation. If the mourner wishes to share her inner world, her personal memories, recollections or feelings, she will. If, on the other hand, she chooses to process it privately, we respect that, while still providing whatever comfort we can. We are now in the period between Passover and Shavuot when nationally we mourn the deaths of Rabbi Akiva’s students, the 24,000 who all died during this time period centuries ago. It is said they died from plague because they failed to give each other respect. Rabbi Akiva’s most famous teaching was: “Love your fellow as yourself,” which he said was “a cardinal principle of the Torah.” But love must be tempered with tolerance. Rabbi Akiva’s students each felt compelled to correct the erroneous behavior of his fellow, and to enlighten him to the true meaning of their master’s words. They failed to properly absorb the words of our sages: “Just as every person’s face differs from the faces of his fellows, so, too, every person’s mind differs from the minds of his fellows.” Each of us has our own special path.

Though the deaths of Rabbi Akiva’s students occurred many centuries ago, we still observe these laws of semimourning to internalize its profound message. We need to care enough about another that we share hurts and help rectify errors while still respecting and valuing his individual path and uniqueness as a human being.

What a challenge! -Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org and the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion

Let the count begin It is a Mitzvah called Sefirat HaOmer (“Counting of the Omer”) to count the days between the holiday of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot. The counting this year will begin in the evening of the on the second night of Passover - Saturday, April 16 and ends in the evening of Saturday, June 4. Every night, after dark, say the following blessing, and then count the proper day: Baruch Atah Ado-nai Elo-hainu Melech Ha-olam, Asher

Kid’shanu B’Mitzvotav V’tzivanu Al Sefirat Ha-Omer. Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has made us holy with His Commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer. Then we count the day saying: “Today is one day (or two days, or three days, etc.) of the Omer.” For a daily reminder, search the word Omer in your mobile app store.

LOCAL

Welcome to town:

Bracha Yaeger

By Benjamin Weiss Bracha Yaeger was born and raised in the Catskills area of New York. She studied in Maryland, the holy land of Israel, and Colorado where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a Masters’s in Education from Grand Canyon University. A newlywed, she is a teacher and childcare professional currently teaching at Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson. She is passionate about her Judaism and instilling that love in children of all ages. How long have you been in Tucson? Two months.

What brought you here? I got married to a Tucsonan! Where did you move from and how is

Tucson compared to it? I moved from Parker, Colorado, a small city near Denver, where commuting far for work and shopping is pretty typical. Tucson is a lot less spread out and has more of a small community feel. Currently reading/learning: I’m learning how to play the piano and guitar. It’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life. A hobby: I like music, doing crafts and painting when I have the time. A favorite Mitzvah/holiday: Lighting Shabbat candles on Friday night. A cherished Jewish memory: Sitting in the Sukkah with my mother,

and helping my father check the area’s eruv every Friday. Tzedaka motto: Ten percent of what we earn goes to those less fortunate and G-d will reward us tenfold. We should give additional tzedakah whenever possible. Jewish app on phone: Aleph Beta Torah Videos. Go-to Yiddish or Hebrew word: I say Oy a lot. Favorite historical Jewish figure: Moses. Chabad: Chabad helps Jews be Jewish all over the world.

Comfort food: Mac and cheese. Happiness: Happiness is a choice. I choose to look at the countless blessings in my life. I love the quote “if you have no reason to smile, put a smile on your face and Hashem will give you every reason to smile.” Kvetch: Clutter and lack of organization. Kvell: When students get excited to learn something new and are proud of something they worked on. Something you’re looking forward to: Passover!

FUN PAGE

Take the 10 Plagues quiz By Menachem Posner

2. Where did the plague of frogs originate? A. The marshes east of Ramses B. A giant puddle in Pharaoh’s palace C. The river D. The frogs came down from the sky 3. What was the first plague Pharaoh’s magicians could not replicate? A. Lice (because they are too small) B. Death of the firstborn (because they were dead already) C. Hail (because fire and ice are opposites) D. Pestilence (because the animals were all dead) 4. What did Moses do to precipitate the plague of boils? A. He poured boiling water in the Nile B. He tossed handfuls of ash into the sky C. He commanded the People of Israel to rub aloe on their skin D. He and Aaron chanted the ancient Verses of Illness 5. What was the fourth plague? A. Swarms of flies B. Wild animals

C. Boils D. Scarcity of spicy mayo 6. Which animals survived the plague of pestilence? A. Those who were vaccinated B. Those whose owners did not hold slaves C. Those who were too old to work D. Those belonging to the Israelites 7. What did those who feared G-d do before the plague of hail? A. They prayed that the hail bypass their homes B. They “fortified their windows and barred their doors” C. They took their property indoors D. They begged Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave 8. How did the locusts arrive in Egypt? A. They rose from the Nile River B. They suddenly appeared, as if from the earth itself C. They blew in on a wind from the east D. Scripture does not tell us 9. What was the final plague? A. Death of the firstborn B. A coronavirus that paralyzed the Egyptian economy C. A shortage of milk and honey D. Darkness 10. Which of the following was NOT one of the 10 plagues? A. Darkness B. Grasshoppers C. Frogs D. Leprosy Answers: 1.D, 2.B, 3.C, 4.B, 5.B, 6.D, 7.C, 8.C, 9.A, 10.D

1. Which waters turned to blood as part of the first plague? A. The Nile River B. All waters in Pharaoh’s palace C. The waters in the canals that watered the linen plantations D. All bodies of water, from the Nile to the water in jugs of wood and stone

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