Columbus Jewish Passover preparation takes on extra significance after Iran air strikes
As Israel came under fire from Iranian missiles and drones, Rabbi Areyah Kaltmann, who co-directs Jewish organization Chabad Columbus with his wife, Esther, said his good deeds in Columbus could reach his "brothers and sisters" half a world away.
"The world is connected. We're all connected. We're, we're all part of something bigger than ourselves. We're all part of one big, beautiful tapestry," he said.
"When we do a good deed, a kind good deed, we don't just help that person. We help the whole world."
Kaltmann, dressed as Moses, helped lead Chabad's "Chametz Burning" on Sunday at the Lori Schottenstein Chabad Center in New Albany, where dozens of children and community members gathered to make matzah, burn leavened bread and watch a fire juggler.
A chametz burning is a ritual where Jews burn leavened bread before Passover, a holiday that celebrates ancient Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt. During Passover, Jews only eat unleavened bread like matzah as a symbolic way of practicing humility, Kaltmann said.
This year's celebrations have increased significance amid rising antisemitism and the weekend Iranian attack on Israel, Esther Kaltmann, Chabad co-director, said.
"I would say that there's a lot of missiles that were attempted to be shot at Israel. And just as in the days of Egypt when the angel of God watched over, all the Jewish people were saved (Saturday) night. So (Saturday) night was really a reenactment (of Passover)," she said.
To mark the occasion, Chabad Columbus hired juggler and magician Stuart Sisk to perform fire juggling Sunday for an assembled crowd of Jewish children. Sisk twirled, tossed and tumbled flaming sticks while the children cheered and smiled.
"All our efforts are worth it for one kid to enjoy being Jewish, for one child, precious child, for their face to smile," Areyah Kaltmann said.
Since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, where 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage, Israel has been embroiled in an invasion of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the home of more than two million Palestinians. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 33,000 Palestinian civilians have died in the conflict.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Jewish community prepares for Passover with "Chametz Burning"
