It smells good

It is now official, we have gone thorugh the weirdest Seder night ever.

Or at least, that I can remember. Singing songs about the Festival of Freedom while sitting at home, not allowed to go outside (are there any readers who lived here during the British Mandate and can compare?) It is, indeed, weird. Writing about the seasonal fruits and vegetables and about all the new growth and joy that spring brings with it – while the people entering the store are gloved and masked and patiently wait for the previous customer to leave – is really very weird.

It is weird to count how many eggs we have left in store. And to apologize to yet another customer that we do not have Tirosh. To feel the surrounding anxiety of “what will happen”. And all the empty roads during the holiday. This quiet everywhere – not quiet like a Shabbat, but totally quiet. Typically during the Passover holiday everyone goes out and enjoys the blossom and the weather of spring. So weird.

But not everything is bad, absolutely not. We now see examples of mutual help in the community and can detect smiles underneath masks. A new courtesy has emerged in Israel. We allow another person to enter the store first.

We ask our neighbor if she needs anything, because I happen to be going to the store. We hear neighboring conversations, like in the old days, from the balcony. We see parents play with their kids, just like that, in the middle of the day. The typically busy business men and women can actually enjoy a mid-day nap.

People also have learned to allow each other more space – the queue no longer looks like a triangle, but a long, spacious line. In addition to hand washing, masks and gloves, we can also protect our bodies with the means that have always been here for us – eating well, moving and stretching our muscles and bones (I know it can be challenging, but if you have 2 square meters and a yoga mat – there are countless videos to help you diversify your workout routine at home).

It is just as important to maintain enough sleep when the body needs it and, despite the difficulty, try to lower the stress levels. It is better to lower the standards and smile when faced with walls that are hand painted with ketchup, than maintain clean walls and a sore throat…

Besides healthy organic food, you can introduce essential oils to your household. For those who are not familiar – these are volatile oils derived from various plants which hold a variety of wonderful virtues, including stress relief, digestive support , cleansing and healing of wounds. Although a collection of cases is not considered a string statistic, I know plenty of mothers who use essential oils to relieve respiratory infections of their young during the winter.

The two essential oils that are most relevant right now are the lavender and the tea tree oil (both of which can be found in the store and also added to your online order). Lavender is known for its soothing properties – it has the scent of a field of purple flowers slightly swaying in the spring breeze. You can drip one drop on a burner or use a scarf – one drop will suffice to carry the scent with you (the nose gets used to it, but you can occasionally sniff it). It is one of the finer oils, making it suitable for a very wide range of age, and is also one of the most useful – from scent pouches for clothes storage to applying on the skin for cosmetic uses.

The other oil is the tea tree oil – also well known and holds a wide range of uses. The oil is known for its strong antiseptic capabilities, mainly for it’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal application. Some recommend it as a treatment for acne, others enjoy using it as a natural detergent (a few drops in a spray bottle along with vinegar and water – sometimes can be more efficient than "conventional" detergents) that is also a great disinfectant against mold.

It is also possible (and recommended!) to prepare a cleaning and disinfecting hand gel – for this you will need some Aloe Vera gel – you can use store bought or natural Aloe Vera from your garden. Mix 16 tablespoons of gel with 9 drops of lavender oil and 25 drops of tea tree oil. Can be stored for two weeks in the refrigerator in a closed dark vessel.