Ah, the anticipation. Spring is in the air. And I'm excited about reliving the thrill of the Exodus. G-d oversaw our liberation from Egypt. I’ve prepped the Haggadah and researched some new material. This past weekend, we were cooking and cleaning and setting. The extra chairs came down from the attic. Alas, my child has declared herself too old to hunt for the chametz. The Pesach toys showing the plagues remain shelved to gather more dust. But I have fond memories of Pesachs past. She used to giggle with excitement hunting for the chametz in the dark with her flashlight. Again and again, she would repeat the search hunting for leaven to burn on our grill. Now her only role, until the next generation arrives, is to read the four questions. Those eternal questions that continue to stimulate our own personal feelings of Judaism. This year, I will point out that the questions are not merely from four different people, but could be from four different stages of one’s life.

My wife joins the fervor as well. New dishes for plating as well as for eating occupy her thoughts. Whether to try new brisket vs. her mother’s tried-and-true heavenly version, individualized dishes for salt water vs. a community pot, and desserts to tickle our fancy are all being prepped for our favorite holiday. The eight days of Passover are looking fun again.