On the other hand
This Pesach millions of Jews throughout the world will be “home alone” as they sit down to celebrate the Seder and the entire week of the Festival.
Normally the intermediate days (Chol Hamoed) are the perfect opportunities for families in Israel to go on tiyulim, explore the wonders of nature and have picnics if spring weather materializes. This year would have been an ideal opportunity for hundreds of thousands to travel to the shores of the Kinneret and marvel at the lake’s miraculous almost overflowing water after the most bountiful winter in recent times.
Highways would usually be choked with traffic and nature parks packed to capacity as families explore, barbecue and relax.
This year, unfortunately, owing to a general lockdown and social distancing requirements none of these leisure activities are going to be possible. Instead with children at home from school and everyone confined to their homes or within 100 meters of their residence the challenge of entertaining restless youngsters and keeping parents sane is going to present a major challenge.
On the other hand, there is going to be a dramatic change to our immediate environment. Pollution from transport emissions will be reduced and the absence of noise pollution will enable us to hear the trills of birds as never before. Nature in all its forms is going to stage a revival.
Perhaps this year’s Festival of freedom will finally liberate us at least temporarily from the enslavement of our usual hectic and frenetic lives.
Here are some inspiring and hopefully helpful hints on the situation we all find ourselves in during these days.
TOP TIPS DURING QUARANTINE TIMES
What can we do while we are isolated especially over this Festival period?
A crash course in what Jewish history teaches us particularly at this critical time.
MATZAH BREI
Are you into Pesach culinary creations?
RESCUING STRANDED ISRAELIS
Israel went to extraordinary lengths in order to repatriate stranded backpackers from all over the world.
