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By the time Pesach 5785 arrives, I hope Moshiach will have already arrived. But being that I am writing this article a week before Pesach and Moshiach has not yet come, we need to be optimistic and hope that he will come. A lot can still happen between now and then.

Time is a prominent theme of Pesach, but it expresses itself in a unique and somewhat puzzling manner. On Pesach, we are commanded to eat matzah (unleavened bread), and eating chametz (leavened bread) is absolutely forbidden (Sh’mos 12:15). This is an incredibly strict prohibition: The punishment for eating chametz is kareis (spiritual excision).

The struggle for the procurement of matzos for Passover for the beleaguered Jews of the Soviet Union was connected to the Soviet Jewish struggle for religious freedom.

The Gemara in Ta’anis says, “mi’shenichnas Adar marbim b’simcha.” Rashi explains: These are times of nisim (miracles), and this applies to both the months of Adar and Nisan, the times of Purim and Pesach. We learn from here that the simcha we have from the miracles in Adar extends through the month of Nisan as well!

A boy is born locked inside of a small house with no windows and no way out. He is provided with food and clothing, as well as books and some toys for entertainment, but that is all.

Once again, air raid sirens have become part of our life. In the past week, there have been at least six or seven missiles from Yemen, and sirens sound throughout much of Israel. As well as a few from Gaza, which set of sirens in the Gaza area and the Tel-Aviv area. B’chasdei Shamayim, there has been little to no damage or injuries! Still, it’s not fun. Some were early in the morning, 2 a.m.