From the close quarters of NY apartments to the far-flung doorways of rural America, from the balconies of Rome to the windows of Wuhan, from the detention centers and prisons to the homeless encampments, this Passover let’s pray for protection of us all. With great love and care, I’m sharing this offering with you today:
Preparing for Passover during a Plague: Cleaning & Protection for the Sake of Solidarity & Healing
This ritual guide offers remixes on two different rituals for preparing for Passover — Bediqath Hametz/Bedikat Chametz, a ritual for cleaning out what no longer serves us; and a ritual for casting protection at our doors.
You’re invited to print one (or all three!) of these beautiful signs in the ritual guide to affix to your door, color in if you wish (great to do with kids!), and place at your door garlic, cedar, &/or salt, and prayers for wellbeing, for healing for those who are sick, for care for those most in need, and for healing for this earth.
We lift up our ancestors’ symbols, such as the hamsa, and plants of protection.
Find the ritual guide at bit.ly/wepassthroughtogether.
Even before this global pandemic hit, the plagues of our time were palpable, such as the cruel detention of immigrants, occupation and racism, devastating climate chaos. The acute crisis of COVID-19 heightens our awareness of the fragility of our health, our routines, our relationships.
These signs signify, as contributing artist Nomy Lamm writes:
“A blessing for our entire community, that the wings above us not be the Angel of Death "passing over" certain houses while taking the lives of others, but instead the sheltering wings of Shechinah, holding all of us close in her embrace. The waters part not just for some of us to pass through, but for all of us, together, raising our hands to be counted on, to do our part, to connect and protect and cleanse and deliver the solidarity that is needed in this time. Keyn yehi ratzon. May it be so."
This ritual was co-created with love by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Kohenet Rae Abileah, Kohenet Dori Midnight, Ilana Lerman, Kohenet Nomy Lamm, Kohenet Bekah Starr, and Wendy Somerson. The ritual features text (and deep support) from Rav Kohenet Taya Mâ (from the new Liberate Your Seder Haggadeck). The ritual guide went live via Jewish Voice for Peace.
May these rituals support us to pause and recalibrate in this potent time of moving towards liberation. This Passover we practice protection by breathing new life into our enduring commitment to Safety through Solidarity.
