Mendel Bluming | Blogger

About 250 years a man on his way back home from his travels in Russia was delayed by a huge snowstorm and forced to search the town for someone who would host him for the first days of Passover and the Passover Seders. He was fortunate to find a simple home with simple sweet people who were willing to have him gladly. At the Seder he began to feel very alone and depressed. He was actually a learned scholar used to expounding on the deeper meanings of the Passover Hagaddah for many hours and here he was at the table of a very simple family who did not seem to appreciate anything beyond the very simple. In fact the leader of the Seder became very carried away and emotional as he spoke of the simple son, exclaiming in a loud voice Tam Mah Hu Omer. He would repeat that line over and over again: the simple son what does he ask? The scholar could not prevent himself from chuckling inside realizing that this man must feel that he is best expressed in the question of the most simple. A

In ridding our homes of chametz like cookies, snacks, cheerios etc we search for even a crumb and we get rid of it.   Over this year of Covid-19, we have come to understand how even the smallest 0.1 micron of coronavirus can wreak havoc in the body's ecosystem. Spiritually as well, it is easy to overlook small comments and insults, gossip and jealousy, overlooking a day of tefillin or a mezuzah on one of our doorposts. Those 'small' details wreak havoc in our spiritual ecosystem. As we prepare for Passover and rid our homes of all leaven, we are invited to look internally to find those too often overlooked personal 'crumbs' that will allow our homes to be so much more healthy, kind and holy. Menachem Mendel Bluming

Disney World in Florida is finally open to guests. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, people in line must stand six feet apart. The result is very long lines. So long, in fact, that guests are being advised to double check which line they're standing in, lest they think they're on line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and end up at Stroller Rental.   It's pretty funny, and it's pretty relevant. After all, isn’t that life’s critical question? Are you on this line only because everyone else is lining up too? Is it really the line leading to where you want to end up? Be careful about the lines you join, lest you mistakenly join the wrong line. Make sure you know exactly what awaits you at the end of line. Who wants to look back on a life lived, and regret all the things they thought they needed because society insisted that they did? Who wants to look back with bitter regret at all the time they wasted standing in line, literally and figuratively, not even knowing

If you read the story of the Megillah you will see that around the time of the original Purim Jews were living safely and securely and having a good life. The king said to bow down to his minister Haman and everyone followed.   Only one Jew refused to follow orders! This incensed the King’s minister and he decided to put the entire Jewish people to death.   Why did Mordechai have to rock the boat?!! Just bow! Big deal, move on. Mordechai is a giant because he reminds us that by bowing you sacrifice your dignity and your basic Jewish values and you have nothing left as a Jewish People. You soon disintegrate and assimilate and you are lost. It is because of Mordechai that me and you are here to celebrate another Purim! Mendel (Menachem) Bluming