House-cleaning ritual helps kick off holiday
By Davy James, Staff Writer
Cleaning a kitchen is a tough job, but for many local residents, the Passover holiday means that job takes on a whole new dimension.
”The Torah says we’re not allowed to have any leavened bread products that isn’t matzo, so any of the five grains are not allowed in the kitchen in any form,” said Rabbi Benjamin Levy, of Etz Chaim Monroe Township Jewish Center. “That means cleaning the home thoroughly as it symbolizes cleaning ourselves for purity. People do a huge spring cleaning of crumbs or any specks of bread products on pots and pans that have crumbs embedded.”
Many local residents have special pots, pans, place mats and dishes saved specifically for this time of year.
”I have a special cabinet that I only open during Passover,” said Marsha Kaufman, of Monroe. “It’s also a good way to get spring cleaning done. We had to take everything out of the refrigerator. “
Many residents begin the process weeks in advance of the holiday.
”We start one to two weeks before Passover begins,” said Jerry Yochelson, of Cranbury. “We have to find every last crumb, so it takes a couple of days to go through everything in the kitchen. We either eat it, throw it away or give it away. Some food I sell to my brother-in-law and buy back from him after Passover, just so it’s officially not mine during the holiday.”
However, because the cleaning may take place before the start of the holiday, many people need to make adjustments in their routine to prevent contact with any leavened product.
”I already cleaned the inside of my oven so I won’t be using the oven until Passover is done,” Mr. Kaufman said. “I’m going to have to use the top of the oven and clean as I go.”
Rabbi Levy said he and his wife buy new sponges and take measures to be sure that no leavened product comes into contact with their counter tops after so much hard work has been completed.
”My wife and I cover our counter tops with aluminum foil to make sure leavened product doesn’t come into contact with them,” Rabbi Levy said. “The washing and scrubbing is a lengthy and time consuming process. I was up until 3 a.m. cleaning. My wife and I aren’t meticulous cleaners all year, but this one time of year we have to be meticulous.”
The process means that children need to be as conscious as their parents of what’s brought into the house.
”Luckily my children are grown so it’s a little easier,” Mr. Yochelson said. “But the kids understand not bring any cookies into the house.”