We are about to begin our Pesach break and engage more deeply in our hachanot for Pesach.  Cleaning, kashering, cooking, shopping, baking, traveling, car washing, haircuts....the list of preparations is endless and our responsibilities are many. Of course, we must physically remove our chametz, both physically and spiritually, as we prepare for our Sedarim and zman cheirutainu.

At this time of year, we are reminded that  "Bizchut nashim tzidkaniyot nigalu avoitanu mimitzrayim."  Our female ancestors played a special role in the redemption of bnei yisrael from mitzrayim.  Their emunah was incredibly strong and their actions during challenging times cemented their deep relationship with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Their commitment to Jewish continuity during our period of slavery showed their extraordinary dedication to  Hashem in all aspects of their lives.

We must strive to emulate that deep bitachon as we remove our spiritual chametz. Our spirtual chametz is what personally  gets in our way of  living a Torah oriented life, what blocks us from elevating our neshamot and bringing us closer to Hashem.  The Jews in Mitzrayim persevered because of their deep emunah in Hashem. They knew that Hashem would redeem them and eventually they would become His people. They witnessed many miracles bestowed upon them by Hashem as they became more deeply connected to Hashem.  We too experience many miracles in our lives and must have the bitachon in Hashem to recognize them as such. In our recent storm, we were reminded of our reliance on nature and how things can swing out of control ever so quickly.  We must always look for the miracles of Hashem that can deepen our relationship, if we can recognize them hidden under the inconveniences and "chametz"  of our lives.

I am ever so proud of the efforts of this year's At Ptach Editors in Chief, Rachel Ehrlich and Rivkie Weiss, so ably assisted by Layout Editors Ayelet Lerner and Deena Miller, who have produced a beautiful Haggadah that will enrich the Sedarim of our SKA family. Special hakarat hatov to faculty advisor, Rabbi David Friedman, who inspired our girls to produce thoughtful divrei Torah! We know that  At Ptach will add a  meaningful spiritual and intellectual component to our Chag, as we fulfill the mitzvah of Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim.

Our inschool hachanot for Pesach have been plentiful in our Torah shebeal Peh and Tanach classes, at our Haggadah Roundtable, at our Chesed program with Otzar, at our Tzemach programs and MAC Chats, and at our outing to YU where our students were inspired by Rabbi Sachs, Chief Rabbi of England.  We have enjoyed our Chametz sales by the G.O., even more than cleaning out our lockers and desks as we prepared together for the upcoming Chag!

A special mazel tov to our SKA Basketball Sonics who won this year's League Championship in one of the most exciting and nailbiting games ever!  Girls, you were  amazing and I was awed by your performance in the second half of the game where you showed extraordinary teamwork and proved how every point makes a difference!  As incredible as this sounds, this was our 15th Championship in a row for our Basketball team!  Special hakarat hatov to Coach Rivkie Pianko '02 who brought our team to this year's win with her emphasis on midot, teamwork and respect for each individual player! Kol hakavod to all the members of this year's team for an outstanding season!

And now it's a countdown to Pesach!  Make the most of your preparations as we spiritually and physically remove our chametz and get ready to experience our personal and collective zman cheirutainu.  May we all be zocheh to deepen our relationship with Hashem as we spend an elevating Chag together with family and friends!  CHAG SAMEACH!