With the balagan that is Purim behind us, we now turn to what some of us (well, me at least) refer to as the nightmare of Pesach. The next few weeks will find us cleaning and scrubbing, prepping and searching, shopping and disposing, screaming and kvetching, and generally exhausting ourselves to prepare for two Seders, multiple services, and a week of eating all things matzah.

 

In our house, on our annual return from Purim festivities, I proclaimed, "There shall be no new Hametz purchased even if it means eating old Hametz that has been sitting in our pantry for the last 10 years"! That call-to-arms always created tremendous stress and started a month of tension.

 

The Jewish condition is such that, sometimes when we take steps to observe our traditions we lose the forest for the trees. We get so caught up in doing things the "correct" way, that the joy of what we are doing gets irreparably repressed. There is great joy in our tradition and we need to make sure that we remember to experience it.

 

With this as background, it was with great interest that I read the following quote attributed to the Boston Rebbetzin:

 

Don't make Purim so Sameach (joyous) that it's not Kosher, and don't make Pesach so Kosher that it's not Sameach (joyous) .

 

The Rebbetzin's point is a good one. Life is best lived in "balance". There are times to do things at full "volume", and times to do them at half "volume". The Torah's mitzvah system was designed, in part, to help us to be present to the world around us and to the things happening in our lives. At the same time it was not intended to shackle us to every miniscule nuance.

 

By living life, and observing our traditions, in a balanced fashion we will be more fully capable of enjoying our holidays, and helping others to share in that joy. In this way, each holiday we celebrate truly becomes a "Chag Sameach", a "Joyous Holiday".

 

In this week's Torah portion we are told to bring a "Korban Todah", a Sacrifice to give thanks. The Torah is reminding us to be present to the good things in our lives. As we transition from one holiday to the next, it is a good time to remind our selves to say "thank you". Thank you to our parents. Thank you to our teachers. Thank you to our friends. Thank you to our Rabbi and Cantor. Thank you to anyone in our lives. Thank you to the Holy One. And after all of that, say "thank you" to yourself for job well done.