Passover, Freedom to be Green

We are approaching the fabulous celebration of Passover, Pesach, our freedom holiday. What do we need freedom from today? Who is the Pharaoh in our lives today?

Soon it will be spring and we will need less and less artificial warmth. Those of us who hibernate during the winter (like me, I am not a winter sports enthusiast) will enjoy stepping out of the confines of our closed-in spaces and experiencing the outdoors in spring. What a glorious time. Freedom from winter.

As we drive around in our gas-consuming cars, heat our homes, use our electronic conveniences, we are also slaves to the big oil and foreign oil conglomerates. To escape that slavery, we must make big decisions. Reduce our reliance on oil and or use alternative methods.

I am feeling blessed this spring. We have made the choice to go Solar. Although we will still be on the grid, we will be less reliant on non-renewable energy sources and we will be relying on the sun rising every morning to give us our freedom.

So, as we think about Moshe leading us to the promised land out of bondage at the hands of the Egyptians, we can also think of steps in our lives that will help us unshackle ourselves from big oil. This year, the sun is our Moshe. It could also be the wind, water. Who knows what the future will be?

What is your Moshe? Or are you Moshe for others, helping them make a break from slavery and step into freedom?

Chag Sameach

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Four Ways To Green Your Seder

(or: Why is this Seder More Green than last Year?)

1. Ask people attending your seder to carpool
2. Incorporate more fresh and organic products into your seder with less packaging
3. If you have to use throw-away plates and cups, make sure they are are compostable
4. Use cloth napkins and continue to use cloth napkins for the entire year

Robert’s 4 Ways to Green a Seder

1. Use the same Matzah as last year. It will taste the same
2. Cut up your wine-stained table-clothes to make wine-stained cloth napkins
3. Invite the same people you invited last year (recycle)
4. Tell the same old jokes you tell at every Passover seder