“Pesach Cleaning Isn’t Spring Cleaning”

By COLlive reporter

As families worldwide prepare for Pesach, a practical and reassuring message shared at a major Jewish gathering is resonating with many who are feeling the seasonal pressure.

At the 14th Annual National Jewish Retreat, hosted by Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, a question many can relate to was asked.

The moderator, Mrs. Goldie Plotkin of Chabad of Markham, Ontario, Canada, presented it: what should be done when Pesach cleaning replaces the joy of the holiday with stress and anxiety—especially for those who cannot afford to leave home for the duration of the holiday.

Responding, Rabbi Chaim Block, Director of Chabad of San Antonio, Texas, clarified a common misconception: Pesach cleaning is not meant to resemble an exhaustive spring cleaning.

“Pesach cleaning does not mean that you have to go through every drawer and cupboard and closet and arrange your whole life again,” he said. “It’s not that extensive, and it shouldn’t get to the point where you can’t enjoy the holiday.”

Instead, Rabbi Block encouraged a balanced approach that avoids burnout while still embracing preparation as part of the mitzvah. A degree of effort, he noted, can deepen appreciation for the holiday, but it must remain within reason.

He also pointed to the deeper dimension of Pesach preparation, describing it as an opportunity not only for physical cleaning, but for personal, spiritual refinement tied to the theme of freedom.

To illustrate the point, Rabbi Block shared a well-known story from the town of Lubavitch in Russia. A young bochur arrived at the yeshiva during the leadership of the Rebbe Rashab, founder of Tomchei Temimim. The bochur showed promise, but it was evident he required refinement in his character and conduct.

Rather than address it through formal study or reprimand, the Rebbe Rashab directed that the bochur be assigned to help prepare the yeshiva kitchen for Pesach.

For several days, the young man worked intensively—scrubbing surfaces, cleaning utensils, and removing every trace of chametz in accordance with halachic standards.

The physical labor was demanding and repetitive, but it had a noticeable effect. After observing the student over that period, the Rashab Rebbe remarked to his son and administrator, the Frierdiker Rebbe, that the transformation was evident: “You see what a little Pesach cleaning can do for spiritual refinement.”

Following the story, Mrs. Plotkin revealed that the bochur in the account was her husband’s grandfather, the chossid Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu Plotkin.

The exchange offered a pointed takeaway: Pesach preparation, when approached properly, is not about excess but about purposeful effort that refines both the environment and the individual.

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