Blessed, Stressed & Matzah Obsessed: Passover Notes from ChayaLeah

Where do I even start? It’s been a week. I’ve hosted Pesach many times, and yet—every single year—I somehow forget just how much work it takes to get ready. Maybe it’s Hashem’s kindness that I forget, because honestly, if I really remembered, I’m not sure I’d keep signing up for this gig 😂!

That said, I know everyone experiences this holiday differently. Not every kitchen gets turned upside-down, and not every fridge gets wrapped up like a space ship. Being a Chasidic Jew and working in the Jewish community definitely adds a few extra layers of... let’s call it “intensity” to the whole prep process.

But despite the stress (and the shopping lists that haunt my dreams), there’s still something kind of beautiful about it all. Exhausting? Absolutely. But meaningful? Always.

The best part of this holiday? All my boys are home. Hearing them cracking up over the dumbest memes and just laughing endlessly with each other fills my heart and makes me so happy. I couldn’t even pretend to be mad that they weren’t helping at that moment. (Okay, I could’ve pretended, but I didn’t)

To be fair, they’ve actually been amazing. I seriously couldn’t have pulled off this holiday without them!

So, here we are: deep in the Pesach trenches. Swipe for a peek at what I’ve been cooking up and the current state of my kitchen:

Yes, we cover our whole kitchen up in this way.

Beet salad, duck sauce, veggie soup, and sweet carrots are finished!

Ratatouille is always a big hit!

Potato Kugel is a must

The band is back together!

Here are some links to get you in the mood of Passover:

This is my favorite Passover song.
The words are taken straight from the Haggadah and translate as:

Vehi She’amda, La’avotainu Velanu Shelo Echad Bilvad, Amad Aleinu Lechaloteinu Ela Sheb’chol Dor VaDor Omdim Aleinu Lechaloteinu V’HaKadosh Baruch Hu Matzilenu Miyadam.

And this (Hashem’s blessings and the Torah) is what kept our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands.

Here is a link to plenty of Passover info:

Passover Info

Wishing you all a truly wonderful Passover.

May this season bring you freedom and liberation—from whatever is holding you back, weighing you down, or keeping you stuck. We all have our own personal “Egypts,” and this holiday reminds us that it is possible to break free.

And most importantly, praying for a safe and peaceful holiday for everyone in Israel, and for the immediate return of all the hostages. May this be a season of real redemption for all of us.

Chag sameach,

Love,

ChayaLeah