The month before Passover brings anxiety to all Jewish homes. For the mothers, the dread comes from the back-breaking work of cleaning and cooking. Teenagers find themselves being commanded to do jobs they’d much rather put off, and the fathers have to deal with complaints from both wife and child.
In the Torah it is written in Shemot (Exodus) 12:15-20, “On the first day [of Passover] remove the chometz (yeast) from your house.”
But how does one define chometz? It is not just those pesky little bread crumbs. Chometz results when one of the five species of grain; barley, rye, oats, wheat, or spelt remains in contact with water for eighteen minuets or more. Any place where chometz might have been brought must be thoroughly cleaned and checked. These places may include toys, phones, purses, garages, and the little spaces in between one’s chair where food may have fallen.
Weeks before Passover mothers go insane trying to fit in all the cleaning that needs to be finished; however, the cleaning process is not supposed to be stressful. There is a commandment, simchat yom tov, which calls for rejoicing during the festivals. If one becomes too stressed out about the cleaning, he or she may be violating this commandment.
What is causing this burdensome attitude towards cleaning for Passover? Some have trouble differentiating between what one is obligated to do and what one wants to do. Stories have been told of mothers who will wash every nook and cranny in their house with a tooth brush, just to make sure that no chometz can be found.
The ones who dread Passover cleaning even more than the mothers are the children and teenagers who may actually be forced to clean their room or help to kosher the entire kitchen. Excuses of all kinds have been used.
“I once told my mom that I had a yearbook meeting at school so I couldn’t help her. Instead, I went to Baskin Robins with my friends,” an anonymous student from Clayton High school confessed.
Some mothers may use Passover as an excuse to start their “spring cleaning.” However, cleaning for Passover should involve a more spiritual mind set. The point of Passover cleaning is to get rid of all the chometz that exists in your house, not just the cobwebs. The evening before our first Passover Seder we search for ten pieces of bread and then burn them the next morning. This is called Bedicat Chometz, or the search for chometz. The search for the chometz and the burning symbolizes the obliteration of our yetzer hara, or evil inclination.
To make Passover cleaning a little more enjoyable, use some of these ideas. Blast music and dance while you’re cleaning or throw a pre-chometz party.
“I threw a chometz party last year and had all my friends bring in an item of chometz from their house. You wouldn’t believe what showed up. We had everything from noodles to Rice-Krispy treats,” said Ladue High School junior Daniella Yasinav.
If you are still stressed out about Passover, remember that you are not the only one feeling the pressure. Don’t take it too personally if your mother snaps at you, Jewish teens everywhere are having the same experience.
-Rani Howard
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Looking for New Teen Staffers
Are you a Jewish high school student?
Are you interested in journalism, photography, or page design?
Ohr Chadash: Teen News by Teen Jews is looking for talented Jewish teens to join our staff. Ohr Chadash is great for any teens who want to gain real life experience in the field of journalism.
To apply, visit http://www.stljewishlight.com/www/teenpage/html/pdf/staffapp.pdf
Are you interested in journalism, photography, or page design?
Ohr Chadash: Teen News by Teen Jews is looking for talented Jewish teens to join our staff. Ohr Chadash is great for any teens who want to gain real life experience in the field of journalism.
To apply, visit http://www.stljewishlight.com/www/teenpage/html/pdf/staffapp.pdf
Sunday, January 3, 2010
St. Louis Jewish Youth Groups
Youth groups help teens connect with other Jewish teens, and Judaism itself. A youth group is an organization of young Jewish teens, for social purposes and spiritual needs, under the sponsorship of synagogues or Jewish community centers. Learning about Judaism with other teens brightens the experience much more. Not only do you make friends but you also grow spiritually.
People meet lifelong friends when involved in youth groups. “I’ve met some of my best friends through NFTY, which is the National Federation of Temple Youth,” Liz Solomon, Ladue senior and NFTY member, said. Being a part of a youth group brings many people with similar heritage close to both their peers and their religion. “I’ve been able to feel closer to G-d as well as get to know a lot of Reform Jewish teens that I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” said Solomon.
“NFTY, to me, is a massive like-minded community, a way to meet new people and to feel like you just belong,” Marquette junior Josh Bohm said.
NFTY has helped Reform Judaism come alive for more than seventy years. Currently, over 750 Reform congregations are a part of NFTY, thus bringing the experience to many high school students. Coming from a historic tradition including Jewish and non-Jewish European youth actions, the North American Federation of Temple Youth encourages leadership at the national, regional and congregational level.
Connect, Inspire, Empower are the key words of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, which is a modern Orthodox Jewish youth group. NCSY connects Jewish teens through innovative social and recreational programs to develop a good Jewish identity. Block Yeshiva High School junior Sara Esrig explains, “NCSY brings so many Jews together to understand and learn about their background and heritage.”
NCSY inspires Jewish teens through Jewish education, retreats and summer programs. It powers teens through leadership development and guidance to become devoted leaders of the Jewish community provide a positive change and redemption. ”It brings the Torah to all different backgrounds of Jews in a cool and fun way,” said Esrig.
In United Synagogue Youth, a Conservative Jewish youth group, teens are the leaders. USY is more than a youth group; it’s a place to awake religion without the restrictions of a service, it’s a place to find what kind of Jew you really are; it’s a place to have fun with kids who are going through the same thing you are; USY is a home away from home.
“USY is a safe place where Jewish kids can be themselves,” says Mital Lyons Warren, a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. “We are like a big family.”
Another youth group is the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. Jocelyn Orloff, head of BBYO in St. Louis County, explained the benefits of BBYO. “As an alumnus of the program, I have seen the benefits of being involved in BBYO first hand. It was through BBYO that I made friends around the world, became a leader, and had opportunities to travel to Bulgaria, Israel, and Poland. BBYO is a unique place where teens can grow as leaders and Jewish individuals while having the best time of their life.”
Youth groups offer a chance to make lifelong friends, develop leadership skills, and develop their Jewish identity. Whether you are Orthodox, Reform, or Conservative a youth group will give you a chance to grow and learn with other Jews and bond while doing so.
“It’s such a great experience to be a part of a youth group because everyone shares a religious commonality, and it’s easier to bond with your peers: I’ve met some of my best friends through NFTY,” said Bohm.
If you haven’t already, take advantage of the youth groups in the St. Louis area – they could change your life.
-Marla Zimmerman
People meet lifelong friends when involved in youth groups. “I’ve met some of my best friends through NFTY, which is the National Federation of Temple Youth,” Liz Solomon, Ladue senior and NFTY member, said. Being a part of a youth group brings many people with similar heritage close to both their peers and their religion. “I’ve been able to feel closer to G-d as well as get to know a lot of Reform Jewish teens that I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” said Solomon.
“NFTY, to me, is a massive like-minded community, a way to meet new people and to feel like you just belong,” Marquette junior Josh Bohm said.
NFTY has helped Reform Judaism come alive for more than seventy years. Currently, over 750 Reform congregations are a part of NFTY, thus bringing the experience to many high school students. Coming from a historic tradition including Jewish and non-Jewish European youth actions, the North American Federation of Temple Youth encourages leadership at the national, regional and congregational level.
Connect, Inspire, Empower are the key words of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, which is a modern Orthodox Jewish youth group. NCSY connects Jewish teens through innovative social and recreational programs to develop a good Jewish identity. Block Yeshiva High School junior Sara Esrig explains, “NCSY brings so many Jews together to understand and learn about their background and heritage.”
NCSY inspires Jewish teens through Jewish education, retreats and summer programs. It powers teens through leadership development and guidance to become devoted leaders of the Jewish community provide a positive change and redemption. ”It brings the Torah to all different backgrounds of Jews in a cool and fun way,” said Esrig.
In United Synagogue Youth, a Conservative Jewish youth group, teens are the leaders. USY is more than a youth group; it’s a place to awake religion without the restrictions of a service, it’s a place to find what kind of Jew you really are; it’s a place to have fun with kids who are going through the same thing you are; USY is a home away from home.
“USY is a safe place where Jewish kids can be themselves,” says Mital Lyons Warren, a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. “We are like a big family.”
Another youth group is the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. Jocelyn Orloff, head of BBYO in St. Louis County, explained the benefits of BBYO. “As an alumnus of the program, I have seen the benefits of being involved in BBYO first hand. It was through BBYO that I made friends around the world, became a leader, and had opportunities to travel to Bulgaria, Israel, and Poland. BBYO is a unique place where teens can grow as leaders and Jewish individuals while having the best time of their life.”
Youth groups offer a chance to make lifelong friends, develop leadership skills, and develop their Jewish identity. Whether you are Orthodox, Reform, or Conservative a youth group will give you a chance to grow and learn with other Jews and bond while doing so.
“It’s such a great experience to be a part of a youth group because everyone shares a religious commonality, and it’s easier to bond with your peers: I’ve met some of my best friends through NFTY,” said Bohm.
If you haven’t already, take advantage of the youth groups in the St. Louis area – they could change your life.
-Marla Zimmerman
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