Notes from Cantor Avima

     We are officially midway between Purim and Pesach. We barely have time to recover from our Hamentashen Hangovers and catch our breath before our thoughts turn to Pesach. It seems like we have been in the month of Adar forever (for two months actually!) but, alas we finally welcome the month of Nissan.  In my house we started the countdown to Pesach as soon as Purim ended... it will be a month of freezer leftovers using up our pasta, oatmeal and the  bagels that have been sitting in the freezer for who knows how long, etc...  My husband knows better than to replenish crackers or anything else that can't be consumed in the next two weeks. 

     Flory Jagoda was a preserver of the musical tradition of the Jewish community of Sarajevo, a community lost by the ravages of the Nazis. Flory Jagoda recorded many traditional and original Ladino songs and one delightful example, "Pesach Ala Mano" (Passover is at hand) is a perfect song to sing or listen to this week as we come to the midway point between Purim and Pesach. Read this article and listen to the song (you tube link included in the article). Pesach Ala Mano

Purim, Purim, Purim is over, Passover is at hand

Matzot are being made, The stuffed grape leaves are being baked.

Aman, aman, aman, aman, The almighty God gives us good fortune.

The grandmother is telling the grandchildren, clean the dust, the corners and the ceilings.

The  Rabbi told the aunts not to eat bread for eight days.