Celebrating the exodus of the everyday

Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein hangs the chometz found by the family on the eve of Passover as his daughter, Sara, 10, looks on. The chametz is hung to keep it out of the reach of children.

Velvel Rosenblum listens to morning prayers led by his son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein, on the eve of Passover at Chabad Jewish Center in Oak Park on March 25.

Schneur, 14, on the search for chametz, or leavened bread. The whole house is inspected and every crumb gathered so that it may be burned the morning of the first Passover day.

Shlomo, 8, stands during morning prayers on the eve of Passover. Near him are brothers, Yankel, 16, left, and Mendel, 18.

Bergstein cut the fingernails of all of his young children, including Shani, 5, so that the clippings may be burned with the chametz as directed by the Talmud.

Six of the Bergstein children are captivated by the fire set to burn chametz (leavened bread) on the morning of the first Passover day.

Bergstein, left, reads from a Torah scroll on the eve of Passover at the Chabad Jewish Center, which he runs out of his Oak Park home.

Nechama Bergstein, left, shows off the newest Bergstein, Mushka, born the day before Passover. Mushka, named for a historical figure from the Chabad movement, is their 11th child.

Shlomo, 8, covers his eyes as he feels the burn of the horseradish being peeled by his grandfather. Horseradish is served at Passover to represent the bitterness of slavery.

For Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein of Oak Park, Passover is not just a holiday to commemorate an event that happened more than 3,000 years ago.

It is a holiday that provides lessons applicable today.

The eight-day holiday celebrates the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt. People can use the story of Passover to free themselves from the confinements of everyday life, he said.

“We all have limitations and restrictions we place on ourselves,” said Bergstein, who runs the Chabad Jewish Center out of his home. “We experience our own exodus and try to grow out of that box we put ourselves into. Passover can help prepare you for any stage of life.”

Bergstein and family allowed Wednesday Journal to observe some of his family’s Passover traditions, which follow strict Jewish law.

For Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein of Oak Park, Passover is not just a holiday to commemorate an event that happened more than 3,000 years ago.

It is a holiday that provides lessons applicable to today.

The eight-day holiday celebrates the liberation of Jews from the slavery of Egypt. People can use the story of Passover to free themselves from the restrictions of everyday life, he said.

“We all have limitations and restrictions we place on ourselves,” said Bergstein, who runs the Chabad Jewish Center out of his home. “We experience our own exodus and try to grow out of that box we put ourselves into. Passover can help prepare you for any stage of life.”

Bergstein and family allowed the Wednesday Journal to observe some of his family’s Passover traditions, which follow strict Jewish law.