Pqsspyer Issue, Friday, March 23, 1956
JEWISH   WESTERN BULLETIN
Page 5
Passaic and auto-emancipation
BY- RABBI JACOB FREEDMAN
Cdngregotton Beth Israel
to the proper observance of Passover, 50 is the search for one's own "sour deeds and thoughts" an important and quintessential
ONE of the most picturesque customs in connection with the preparations for Pesach is the   ceremony   of "Bedikas
Chpmetz"'. We all remember following our
father around from room to room, he with his feather and receptacle and we with the flickering candle, ostensibly "searching" for crumbs of bread and cake. Father sweeps it up with his feather, while we hold the candle above the place of "discovery". The- next morning father performs the act of "Biur Chometz",—burning or otherwise disposing of the chometz. The home is now ritually "Pesachdig", proper and'"fit" to'celebrate and observe thie gr^at Festival of Freedom.
The Rabbis of old. were . ever keen to observe that no physical act, ho' rituaL act Was without' a meaning and^ lesson over and beyond the particular performance or observance. The . performance of a Mitzvah was thus also a symbolic act.
What symbolism did our forefathers see in "Bedikas Chometz" and in "Biur Chometz"?
Always viewing life of the ethical and moral plane they naturally saw in these preparatory PassoVer customs a call to improved individual and communal conduct. Just as the search for
the "sour food" is a prerequisite I cleaning of our souls"! Let us ex-
RABBI JACOB FREEDMAN
actjri our preparation for our own spiritual redemption.
HAVE WE FALLEN into smug self-complacency, self-satisfaction with ourselves? Have we mistakenly come to view everything within the household of our own selves as being completely good, sweet, correct, fit, "Kosher"? Then Pesach comes along to remind us that we should make a "spring
71 Happy Passover and Thank You
Very Best Wishes and a Happy Passover to the Vancouver Jewish Cornmunity.
The members of the Gofden Age Club wish to express thei r appreciation to the Naf ionol Council of Jewish Women and tal<e this opportunity of congratulating them on their 3ist annivers-
■ ^ary.- ■ ■ - ■
□
The Vancouver Peretz School
MUTER FAREIN AND P.-T.A.
EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR
A VERY HAPPY PASSOVER
TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
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amine ourselves, critically. All year long we have been examining others, critically. Let us turn the searchlight. upon ourselves. Let us turn the beam of light inwardly. Have we been careless with our spiritual life, our religion, our community, our obligations' as a son or daughter of Israel? Have we been guilty of contributing to "ill will and misunderstanding between group and group? Have we been remiss in oiir duty of so conducting ourselves as Jews so that we shall cast no reflection upon the fair
name, honor and dignity of Judaism and of the Jewish People?
In our own personal lives, have we been petty and mean? Have we been begrudging and vengeful? Have we been envious and covetous? Have we been guilty of pointing the finger of scorn and accusation at a friend or neighbor, and been blind to the other three fingers pointing accusingly at oiir-selvcjs? Hav6 we been neglectful? Have we sought to avoid our personal obligations in our family life? In our synagogue life? In our cultural and educational life? Have we deputed people to be our leaders and then so acted that we shear them of authority, dignify and cooperation and thus negate
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BEST WISHES TO ALL FOR A
HAPPY AND JOYOUS PASSOVER ^  ^ ¥
Voncouver Histadrut
PASSOVER GREETINGS FROM THE
Gleneagies
Golf and Country Club
Passover Greetings
from the
ZIONIST GAMIZATIOni
PACIFIC REGION ♦  ♦ ♦.
Israel N«@ds Gift Dollars to Absorb Neweomors and isroel Bond Dollars to Dovolop hor Economy.