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Cleaning with Joy Creates Malachim

Cleaning with Joy Creates Malachim

by Rav Elimelech Biderman, shlita

From “Torah Wellsprings”

    Every aspect of Yiddishkeit should be performed with joy, and Pesach cleaning is no different. Like performing other mitzvos, we should consider cleaning and preparing for Pesach a privilege.

    The Kav HaYashar (90) writes, "I received a kabbalah that every activity one does in honor of Pesach, and becomes tired from the toil kills many mazikim [demons], which are called “the ones who harm human beings.” 

    In addition, cleaning for Pesach creates holy malachim, similar to the malachim created by the blowing of the shofar.

    Many machzorim, for instance, use the abbreviation, קשר״ק to represent תקיעה ,שברים, תרועה, תקיעה, and the machzor states the following prayer: "May the malachim that come out from the קשר״ק go up before Hashem to be meilitz, and to bring merit and praise the Jewish nation." 

    The Bardichever Rav once saw women cleaning for Pesach, and he said, "May the malachim that come forth from the קראצן שארן רייבן קערן , [the rubbing, scraping and cleaning for Pesach], the roshei teivos קשר״ק, ascend to heaven and advocate for the Jewish nation.”

    The Beis Avraham, zt”l, also praised the greatness of cleaning for Pesach by comparing it to the service of the kohen gadol on Yom Kippur. The Torah’s use of the word “זאת“ in the mitzvos for both chagim, the Beis Avraham points out, teaches us that cleaning the home for Pesach is compared to the kohen gadol's avodah on Yom Kippur.

    In reference to Pesach, we read in Shemos (13:5) ועבדת את העבודה הזאת בחודש הזה, "You shall do this work in this month"; and in reference to Yom Kippur, we read  in Vayikra (16:3), בזאת יבא אהרן אל הקודש. 

    Cleaning for Pesach, and being cautious about chametz, causes a degree of discomfort. Often, the house is a bit out of order, and we don't have a regular place to eat. Before Pesach, we might eat in unusual places, such as porches, yards, or in the corners of our homes.

    The Pela Yoetz (גלות), however, writes that during these times when we are temporarily displaced, we should have in mind that we are enduring galus, exile. Even this minor displacement can be considered a microgalus. And galus atones for our sins. 

     Once, Rebbe Shlomo of Bobov, zt”l, visited the home of Baron Rothchild, a wealthy British banker and politician, and the Baron treated the Rebbe with great honor.

      As part of the tour of his large property, the Baron showed his “Pesach house” to the Rebbe. The Pesach house, the Baron said with pride, is undoubtedly 100% chametz-free because he only cooked and lived there during the eight days of Pesach. 

     The Rebbe, however, remained silent. 

     The Baron said, "Doesn't this chumrah find favor in the eyes of the Rebbe?" 

    Rebbe Shlomo Bobover replied, "My grandfather, the Divrei Chaim of Tzanz, zt”l, was poor, but money never prevented him from doing what he felt was necessary. If he thought it was better to have a Pesach house or a Pesach kitchen, he would have had one.

   "Obviously, he didn't consider this chumrah necessary." 

   Perhaps, the Rebbe said, this is because Hashem feels great pleasure when we toil to get our homes kosher l'Pesach.


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