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Spring Cleaning Ritual
Contributed by Hannah Hirschland

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Spring Cleaning Ritual on the Eve of the Full Moon Nisan

Removing the Hametz In the month of nisan with the death of winter and the coming of spring our ancient mothers cleaned out their houses.

They gathered brooms, mops, brushes, rags, stones, and lime they washed down walls swept floors beat rugs scoured pots changed over all the dishes in the house. They opened windows to the sun hung lines for the airing out of blankets and covers using fire air and water in the cleaning.

In the month of nisan before the parting seas called them out of the old life our ancient mothers went down to the river they went down to the river to prepare their garments for the spring.

Hands pounded rock voices drummed out song there is new life inside us Shekhinah prepares for Her birth.

So we labor all women cleaning and washing now with our brothers now with our sons cleaning the inner house through the moon of nisan.

On the eve of the full moon we search our houses by the light of a candle for the last trace of winter for the last crumbs grown stale inside us for the last darkness still in our hearts.

Washing our hands we say a blessing over water… We light a candle and search in the listening silence search the high places and the low places inside you search the attic and the basement the crevices and crannies the corners of unused rooms. Look in your pockets and the pockets of those around you for the traces of Mitzrayim.

Some use a feather some use a knife to enter the hard places.

Some destroy Hametz with fire others throw it to the wind others toss it to the sea. Look deep for the Hametz which still gives you pleasure and cast it to the burning.

When the looking is done we say:

All that rises up bitter All that rises up prideful All that rises up in old ways no longer fruitful All Hametz still in my possession but unknown to me which I have not seen nor disposed of may it find common grave with the dust of the earth amen amen selah . . .

—Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
haggadah Section: Urchatz
Source: velveteenrabbi.com

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