Just a few short weeks ago, in Parshas Bo, the Torah
tells us how to prepare for the korbon Pesach. The
korbon was to be brought by an extended family; and if
this group was too small to ensure that the lamb would be
consumed with no leftovers, then families were to join
together.
Would it take too large a stretch of the imagination to
suggest that we use this prototype for our Pesach
preparations? Pre-Pesach tips abound, but many families,
blessed with many little children, cannot begin to use these
ideas! They can barely get through a normal day; Shabbos is
hard and Pesach seems impossible.
So Tip #1 is, if you are able to help out a neighbor,
friend or relative, do so! It may be in shopping,
inviting them over for Shabbos Hagodol, bringing over
a meal, or sending over your daughters to help clean up.
Don't think, incidentally, that your daughters are only there
to help YOU. Remember that our children are given to us a
pikodon, and really, since Jews are all mutually
responsible, they are fulfilling a mitzvah if they
help out others as well as you.
Of course they have a bigger obligation at home, but as the
mother, you can model for them this exemplary trait of
sharing. Bear in mind that Hashem has many messengers. Many
times I have found that when I took extra time off to help
someone, or sent my daughter out, other things fell into
place, so that the time was compensated for. You won't lose
out; your daughter will appreciate your gesture, and will
find time for both.
Which leads to Tip #2. If you do have an older daughter,
allow her to get together with a friend, and they can Pesach-
clean at her house, and later at your own. The girls will
enjoy working together, and can also pick up new cleaning
methods, etc, at each other's homes.
Now for some tried and true cleaning ideas. Let me begin by
sharing the witticism of my Aunt Rose of v.b.m. She used to
point out that there are two time slots for washing the
dishes — when you finish eating, or before the next
meal. It's late to point out this obvious idea for this year,
but bear in mind for next Pesach: wherever you disallow
eating and by extension, crumbs, you will save on heavy
Pesach cleaning.
Of course it makes sense, time allowing, to clean out
bathroom drawers, and whatever areas were kept chometz-
free all year, but it is not anything like going through the
car, stroller, toy boxes and books, and finding them jam-
packed with chometz.
I once read of a family that had set the air-conditioner to
go on for the first time that season during their
seder. It is hard to imagine their shock, as it turned
on and began spewing forth Cheerios! In another incident, a
family was enjoying their seder, when one of the
guests looked up at the chandelier and noticed a wad of gum
hanging from it! Certainly, the parents never told their
children that it was OK to play with Cheerios on the air
conditioner, and once your kids are chewing gum, it seems you
would allow them to do so at the dining room table, but it is
probable that in those homes, as in many, eating was
permitted all over. Which is just one of the decisions each
of us has to make — whether to be vigilant all year
around, or to work like our forebears in Mitzrayim for a few
weeks. And those anecdotes certainly remind us to think of
unlikely but possible places where chometz may be
lurking!
After the fact, all we can conclude with is Tip #3:
Concentrate on cleaning areas that will be used on Pesach.
Start with the kitchen, specifically the areas that will
become Pesachdik. The drawers and cabinets that will be
filled with Pesach items, the refrigerator, highchair, table
and chairs. Although you may think it is too early to do
these areas, some of them may have a lot of built up
chometz (depending on when you cleaned them last and
how thoroughly . . . ). If they are thoroughly cleaned a few
weeks before Pesach, even if they become chometz-dik
again, the final cleaning up will be a cinch. It truly is
more difficult to remove dirt/chometz that has been
attached for months than crumbs that have been just dropped
off.
Tip #4: Even if you allow eating in your car all year
long, once it is cleaned out (after Purim makes sense), you
can insist on no more eating there until after Yom Tov.
Once you enforce it for these few weeks, you may even want to
make it a year-round rule! While you are in your vehicle,
don't forget the car seats. Usually the pads can be removed,
and you may find quite a bit of leftover snacks there!
Likewise for your strollers. Recliners and couches. Purses,
backpacks, anything that will be used on Pesach.
Tip #5: As time allows, with these major sources of
chometz taken care of, you can get to the rest of the
house, Again, start with areas that must be accessed over
Pesach. Crumbs behind the bookcase are not a real halachic
problem for Pesach, but in your clothing drawer they are.
Areas that are to be sealed off or not used should either be
done before Purim or just locked up. With this method, you
will hopefully not trip on any chometz over Pesach,
and the rest is really nullified Erev Pesach. To begin with,
it is a great idea to remove every crumb, but for that you
need to really start early or have a lot of help. As you
get closer to Yom Tov, it is important to prioritize, and
perhaps make up some notes and ideas for next year!
As you clean, constantly bear in mind that all pre-Pesach
cleaning is a mitzvah. You are doing Hashem's will
while at the same time praying as you work; these are
wonderful thoughts to keep in our heads as we go through the
next few weeks. If you have a lot to clean up, then be
thankful for your many possessions.
Tip #6: if you haven't used something all year, give it
away or dispose of it. If you cannot bear to part with it
because your children may need it when they get married, or
your grandchildren . . . clean it and pack it up in a clearly
marked box. You won't have to look at it again until you need
it.
Tip #7: turn your `liabilities' into assets. Your
children. The little ones, that is. OK, if they are under
two, you cannot get any help out of them, I'll admit, but
even very young children can get involved in the 'Pesach
fun.' Start by sitting them down, with a snack of apples,
popcorn or whatever you need to do to get them to sit
quietly. Tell them how big a mitzvah it is to get rid
of all the chometz, and how they can help.
Use a chart, stickers, or try a dry erase board; my children
love it! Try to make a game, such as they are able to advance
their marker along a path you have drawn, after each chore
they fulfill. Then offer tasks, broken down to their ability,
for them to do. They are able to clean off Lego, wooden
blocks, puzzles, books, especially if you are planning to
seal them off for Yom Tov, anyway. If they are old enough,
they can clean out their clothing drawers, closets,
schoolbags, etc. Of course you can inspect before all is
done, but they will have a feeling of accomplishment and keep
busy while you can work.
Consider letting them scrub up with you. My four- and six-
year-olds actually did a decent job on the refrigerator
shelves, while I worked near them to supervise and help get
shelves and food in and out. They can clean the outside
cabinet doors, appliances, corners on the floor, and more. If
you cannot supervise all of your workers at once, try to set
up shifts, where some play while others work. Don't forget to
thank, praise, and offer prizes. Be sure to tell their Tatty,
Zaidy & Bubby, Uncles and Aunts about how nicely your Pesach
cleaning is coming along, especially while your helpers are
around!
Tip #8: Save time, money and calories by preparing simple
meals (before and during Pesach). Whenever you see
someone old enough to use a peeler sitting and talking, give
him or her a peeler, bowl and potatoes. That way, you are
ready . . . don't forget that potatoes, generally speaking,
cost a lot less than matzo! And there are lots of recipes for
potatoes that do not require too much time. Try cutting them
into French fry size, sprinkle with oil, salt, paprika, add
some water to quicken the process, and bake. Most ovens can
handle two trays at the time (if you don't have two trays,
invert a baking dish on the oven bottom and put a tray on
that)! You can add sliced onions and have a side dish in 20
minutes.
For a full meal, put some chicken on top. Kugels are very
time consuming and need lots of oil and eggs, so you may want
to limit them. Mashed potatoes, potato salad,
vegetable/potato salad, even plain whole baked potatoes, each
have a slightly different taste and can be put up with for
just one week.
Soups can be very filling and provide a lot of vegetables.
You can cut up whichever you have on hand, and make a
vegetable soup, serving it either as is or blended. Of
course, if you want to do more, you can, but your family
might enjoy having their mommy sit with them, and forgoing
kugels and time-consuming dishes is a small price to pay.
[Ed. Can't help putting in my two cents' worth. Quick kugels
can be made by grating five big potatoes potatoes on the big
holes of your grater or processor, add two eggs, a bit of oil
in a hot frying pan, cook about ten minutes on each side with
cover on, high-ish fire. Add a bit of water at the end and
drain off the oil.]
