On this eve of Passover, I’m thinking about my mom and how she used to prepare so far in advance for the celebration of this holiday. She started to clean the house at least one month in advance. Every single nook and cranny had to be cleaned from top to bottom, and that included every closet and cupboards. Even walls had to be scrubbed. For her, even a particle of dust was taref (not kosher) and had to be removed. I used to complain about it and make fun of it. I thought she was a bit excessive. But back in Egypt where she grew up, cleaning reached a whole other level. My grandmother was not satisfied with just scrubbing walls. She repainted them entirely! They did this every Passover, every year. I now understand that traditions are more than just traditions. Behind them often lies an important wisdom. Spring cleaning is good for the soul.
