As you’ve advanced your observance, how have your Pesach issues changed over the years?
– Focusing on cleaning
– Focusing on running the seder
– Focusing on non-religious relatives
– Focusing on keeping the children involved
– Focusing on make it more meaningful each year
Mr. Cohen, it is time for you to work on V’sheenantom L’vanecha! Find your true Zivug and start a family of wonderful Yiddishe Kinder to sit at your very own Pesach Seder and ask, “Tatteh leiben, Ich vill der freigen, di Fier Kashes.”
Remember that the Chofetz Chaim’s youngest child was born to his second wife when he was 77 years old. So it is never too late (especially true for a man) to think about building a family.
In my early years a Baal Teshuvah I said very few Pesach divrei Torah at the sedarim and the daytime seudot, and the few I said were probably not very good.
Now Bâ€H IYâ€H I am able to, and expected to, recite numerous Pesach divrei Torah from: Tanna DeBei Eliyahu, Jerusalem Talmud, Babylonian Talmud, Shuchan Aruch, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, Midrash Rabah, Seforno, Sefer Charedim, Kav HaYashar, Shevet Mussar, Chidushei HaRim, Rabbi Akiva Eiger, Vilna Gaon, Baal HaTurim, Maharal, Maharil, Steipler, Rabbi Avraham of Slonim, Rabbi Avraham of Slonim, Midrash Tanchuma, Rambam, Rema, Sichos Mussar, Ibn Ezra, Chayei Adam, Tur, Rashbam, Yalkut Shimoni, Mechilta, Rabbi Yehudah HaChasid, Midrash Tehillim, Sefer HaChinuch, Ramban, Chayei Adam, Sefer Benayahu, Sefer HaShelah HaKodesh, Sefer Megale Amukot, Chida, Rashi, Rabbeinu Yonah, Avot DeRabbi Natan, Sefer Pele Yoetz, Rabbi Yosef Ber Soloveitchik, Sefer Mitzvot Katan, Kaf HaChayim [Palagi], Kaf HaChayim [Sofer], Sefer Bnei Yissachar, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Zohar, Rabbi Yaakov of Lissa, etc.
I think that it is important to stress and underscore that Pesach cleaning, as R C P Sheinberg ZL, stressed should never be confused with spring cleaning. Such a POV can have very negative view on how one approaches Zman Cherusenu and its requirement of Simcha.