What Is Bedikat HaMayim? A New Passover Tradition to Honor the Sea

The Sea saved our ancestors at this season in ancient days... Let’s return the favor.

Passover is a time of reflection, gratitude, and tradition. As we recount the miraculous parting of the Sea, which saved the Israelites during their journey to freedom, we’re reminded of the profound relationship between the Jewish People and the Sea. This year, Repair the Sea is introducing a new way to honor that connection: Bedikat HaMayim, a meaningful ritual to fulfill the Mitzvah of Bal Tashchit (prohibition against wastefulness) before Passover.

A Modern Twist on an Ancient Tradition

In the Jewish tradition, Bedikat Chametz takes place on the night before Passover. This practice involves searching the home for chametz (leavened products such as bread) with a candle, feather, wooden spoon, and a paper bag. It’s a meticulous search and removal of physical and spiritual clutter, preparing the household for the holiday’s themes of renewal and liberation. Ten pieces of bread are customarily hidden and then burned the next morning as part of the ritual.

Building upon this tradition, Bedikat HaMayim creates an opportunity for environmental action. Just as we search for and remove chametz from our homes before Pesach, Bedikat HaMayim is a “search for schmutz” along our local waterways. This waterfront cleanup encourages participants to remove trash and pollutants from beaches, rivers, and lakes in their communities. By doing so, we connect the timeless values of Passover to contemporary concerns for environmental sustainability.

Why Bedikat HaMayim?

We heard your calls for more opportunities to engage in meaningful action beyond an annual event. Bedikat HaMayim is a response to that request—a way to foster deeper connections between Jewish life and environmental stewardship. It allows us to:

- Honor the Sea: Just as the Sea played a vital role in the Exodus story, we now have an opportunity to protect and preserve it.

- Fulfill Bal Tashchit: This Mitzvah urges us to prevent waste and care for the Earth, aligning our ethical and spiritual values.

- Unite as a Community: Join others in your local area and across the globe in this shared mission, creating a sense of solidarity and purpose.

- Promote Positive Change: Every piece of trash removed is a step toward cleaner, healthier ecosystems.

How to Participate

1. Organize or Join a Cleanup: Gather people in your community from a synagogue, a Hillel, a group of friends, family, JCC, school, or a federation and make a commitment to clean a local waterway on April 6, 2025. If you don’t live near the beach or a river or a lake, you can also clean a local park or wilderness trail (after all…our ancestors also wandered in the wilderness after they passed through the Sea.)

2. Infuse the Event with Ritual: Begin with a reflection or blessing to set the tone for the cleanup. Consider incorporating elements from Bedikat Chametz, like a few symbolic pieces of trash for children to find.  Maybe add prizes for whomever finds them.  Like the Afikoman.

3. Share Your Experience: Document your cleanup and share it with your community, on social media and with Repair the Sea to inspire others to take action.

Be Part of the Global Movement

Incorporating Bedikat HaMayim into Jewish life allows us to link ancient wisdom with modern responsibility. By embracing this new tradition, we honor our heritage, deepen our connection to the natural world, and contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.

This Passover, join us in turning gratitude into action. Together, let’s celebrate the Sea that saved our ancestors and ensure its beauty and vitality for generations to come.