Part of preparing for the Passover festival is searching for chametz—the leavened products in our homes and the crumbs we have dropped along the way. This annual ritual has long been a part of our tradition, woven into family customs around Pesach preparations. As an extension of cleaning the chametz from our homes, we will remove litter left behind at a local beach.

This is not merely a beach clean-up effort; it is also an opportunity to gather for shared ritual in the spirit of bal tashchit—the fundamental Jewish legal/halakhic and ethical principle prohibiting the needless destruction or waste of environmental resources. Our bedikat ha'mayim will include an opening and closing ritual and some opportunities for connection in addition to cleaning up the shoreline and waterways around our home.

The narrative of Passover includes the important role of the Reed Sea parting to allow us to cross, unharmed. Water is a sacred resource, and the waterways all around us here in Florida bring us much pleasure. It is upon us to protect it.