Pesach in Crown Heights was amazing. It was of course hard being away from the family in Singapore but I really appreciated spending Pesach with the Lubavitchers this year. So much to see, so much to learn. That being said, I am a little tired of beets, potatoes, onions and carrots (now known as the 4 basic food groups).

Interestingly enough, the look, smell and taste of the basic "Pesach chicken dish" is startlingly close to what we Iraqis cook all year round - chicken, onions and potatoes. I was wondering why the taste and smell was so comfortingly familiar... I guess Crown Heights gave me a taste of home without realising it!

The afternoons of Thursday, Friday and Shabbos saw Crown Heights welcome the spring. It was such a beautiful sight, to see families sitting on their porches, enjoying the sunshine and relishing that Yom Tov / Shabbos feeling. Kids running around, visiting their friends' houses and the adults, dozing lightly as the sun descended. Gorgeous.

And then there was me, hobbling unglamorously on my left foot because I took a tumble on the first night of Yom Tov, on my way to the first seder. I was walking from 770 to the Machon Chana dorm, tripped on a crack in the pavement (what do you expect, its NY), flew and landed at the feet of startled shul-goers who were exiting from the Free Shul on President Street. My precious cargo of matzos went flying as I landed heavily on my right knee. As I lay on the floor (in pain) I peeked up to see about 15 pairs of eyes staring at me. Nice. Somehow I managed to pick up myself, my matzos and wobble to the Seder with the help of some classmates. But the crack in the pavement was not so kind, for it lent a nasty infection to my knee which took the opportunity to fester itself over the 3-day Yom Tov. BH now all is well, the pain and swelling is slowly subsiding with the help of antibiotics, and IY'H I will be good as new by Yom Tov.

Despite my injury, everything was amazing, especially the home-made Pesachdike coffee ice-cream and yes, the beet-and-potato salad still tasted great the 6th time over on Shabbos afternoon. Perhaps the only thing better than the food were the Chassidim and their warmth this Yom Tov. Everyone was welcoming and inviting, and Rabbi Majeski was amazing as usual in his delivery and explanation of the Hagaddah al pi Chassidus. Some guests hopped impatiently from foot to foot, nudging the Seder on. Others (like me) adopted the path of least resistance by dozing silently in their seats - it was was 2:30 a.m. after all, and I had consumed more matzos and wine than I thought humanly possible. ZZZZzzzzzz...............

A gutten moed / Chag Sameach, everyone.... got matzah?