Holiday of Passover (Pesach)

1. Names of it:

1. Pesach – Passover
2. Chag Hamatzos – Holiday of Matzos
3. Zman Cheiruseinu – The Time of Our Freedom

1. Dates:
2. Hebrew date – 15^th of Nissan through 22^nd of Nissan
3. This year’s English dates –Wednesday evening, April 1st through Thursday night, April 9th
   (ends at 8:06 pm) Los Angeles time.

• Structure:
  1. Out of Israel
     1. Eight days total
     2. 2-day Holiday —- 4 days Chol Hamoed (Intermediate days)—- 2-day holiday
  2. Requirements- Commandments
     1. No “Chometz” consumed (Chometz is leavened bread or food items, e., bread, pasta, pita etc.) the entire Passover
     2. No “Chometz” in possession the entire Passover
     3. Having “Seder” – first two nights Wednesday night, April 1st and Thursday night , April 2nd
        1. Eating Matzah
        2. Eating Maror (bitter herbs)
        3. Drinking four cups of wine
        4. Telling story of going out of Egypt
        5. Things needed for Seder
           • Wine
           • Matzah
           • Bitter herbs
           • Hagadda (recommend many different ArtScroll Hagaddas)
           • Seder Plate
           • Salt water
           • “The Quick and Easy Seder Guide” by Rabbi Mayer Erps
        6. Work Restrictions
           1. First two days and Shabbos (Wednesday night March 31st through Saturday night April 4th)
           2. Last two days ( Tuesday night, April 7th through Thursday, April 9th )
           3. Weekday holiday work restrictions are the same as Shabbos except one can carry and cook from a pre-existing flame

1. Candle lighting:
   1. First Two days:

1^st night, Wednesday  night April 1st , light at 6:56 PM

2^nd night, Thursday night, April 2nd , after 7:59 PM Los Angeles time from a pre-existing flame

Add Shehechiyanu – kept us alive – first 2 nights only. page 296 in ArtScroll Prayer book.

2. Last two nights and days:

7^th night– Tuesday night, April 7th  candle lighting 7:00 PM Los Angeles time,

8^th Night, Saturday night, April 19^th after 8:12 Los Angeles time, from a pre-existing flame.

1. Holiday Meals:
   1. Kiddush at night – Sanctification – Pages 658 in ArtScroll Prayer Book, over wine or grape
   2. Meals on first 2 days and last 2 days;

-one at night
-one at day

-use Matzah
-have beautiful table at meals.

1. Special Services and Prayers:
   1. Special silent devotion for 3 major holidays – page 660 in ArtScroll Prayer – say inserts for Passover
   2. Hallel – praise – page 632 in ArtScroll Prayer Book
   3. Special supplemental services for 3 major holidays – page 674 in ArtScroll Prayer
      Use Passover inserts
      1. Tal- Prayer for Dew, Sustenance (1^st day of Pesach)
   4. Counting the Omer begins 2nd night – bottom of page 282-284, then page 286 for the actual day, and continuing nightly until the holiday of Shavuos
   5. Shir Hashirim – Song of Songs said on Shabbat- 3rd day of Holiday
   6. Torah readings daily
   7. During Chol HaMoed say regular silent devotion but add Yaaleh v’yavo- in morning service shaded paragraph pg 110 in ArtScroll Prayer Book
   8. Yizkor – Prayer of Remembrance for parents and loved ones- page 810 in ArtScroll Prayer Book said on (Last day of Pesach)— light 24-hour candle from a pre-existing flame from the night before.

• Preparing for Pesach
  1. Tuesday, March 31st
  2. 2. Finish cleaning home and selling Chometz
  3. At night- searching for chometz with blessing page 654 in ArtScroll.

1. Wednesday, April 1st
   1. fast of first born or siyum
   2. Last time to eat chometz ideally by 10:26 AM but no later than 10:51 AM
   3. Burn Chometz by 11:42 am
   4. Negate ownership by  11:42 AM page 654 3^rd paragraph in ArtScroll.
   5. Eat fish, meat and or fruit for third meal in afternoon
   6. Take nap

Any questions? Please call me at the Jewish Learning Exchange 323-857-0923

Have a Happy and Kosher Passover.
Rabbi Avrohom Czapnik