B"H
Thursday, Nissan 8, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / March 30, 2023
Q.The traditional festival greeting is, “Chag Sameach” – which translates to, Happy holiday. Why is the traditional Pesach greeting, “Chag Kasher VeSameach” – which means, “Have a kosherand happy holiday.” A Jewish home should be kosher always. Why this special wish for Pesach?
A.A Jewish home has to be kosher all year round. However, the laws of Pesach are very strictand the prohibitions for Pesach are many. Even foods which are kosher all year long may not be kosher for Pesach (Passover). Thus, we need to make an extra effort to be sure that our home is kosher for Pesach. Not only are we not allowed to eat foods which are prohibited on Pesach, but we are also not allowed to have them in our possession during the holiday.
With all the effort we make to clean our home for Pesach and buy only kosher for Pesach products, we still can use a special blessing that no accidents or oversight will happen and that everything will indeed be kosher for Pesach. This is the reason we wish each other a Chag Kasher VeSameach– A kosher and happy holiday.
Q. Why is there an extra special effort made to collect and distribute more charity to supply the Pesach needs of the poor and needy, more than for other holidays?
A.In the beginning of the Seder, we recite the following passage, “This (the matzah) is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let them come and eat.” We cannot enjoy our Seder, when we know that someone out there doesn’t have the means to make a Seder. Pesach provisions are more expensive than usual. Everybody is required to drink four cups of wine, eat matzah and enjoy a Seder with a festive meal. Thus, we make an extra effort to supply the needy with their Pesach needs.
Before Pesach, a poor man asked the town Rabbi if he could fulfill his obligation of the Four Cups by drinking milk instead of wine because he didn't have the money to buy wine for the Seders.
"The question you asked will need a lot of research", replied the Rabbi, "and since I don't have the time now before Pesach, here is twenty five rubles to buy your needs for the holiday".
After he left, the Rabbi's students asked. "Why did you give him so much? Five rubles would have been enough to buy wine."
"From his question, whether he can use milk for the Four Cups, I realized that he also had no meat for the Seder! For if he had meat how can he drink milk after meat! Now, if he has no meat for the Seder, he surely has no meat for the rest of the holiday meals. What's more, his family must be missing many other necessities as well. I gave him twenty five rubles and hope it's enough...!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY