PESACH REMINDERS
With Pesach just around the corner it's never too early to start thinking about what to do and
what not. Here's a short list of what to keep in mind:
EREV PESACH (AND BEFORE)
Mechiras Chometz: Designate your Rabbi as your sholiach, or agent, to sell your chometz to a
non-Jew before Pesach. Place all sold chometz in a special area inaccessible to you.
Bedikas Chometz should be conducted by the head of the household on Sunday, March 24,
2013, at nightfall (7:53PM). With the use of a single-flame candle, each room into which chometz
may have been brought during the course of the year must be carefully examined.
Ta'anis B'choros: First-born Sons who are 13 years of age or older, as well as the fathers of
first-born sons who are under the age of 13, should attend a Seudas Mitzvah if they wish to
be absolved from the Ta'anis B'choros, or Fast of the First-born, on Monday morning March
25, 2013. The morning schedule is as follows:
First Minyan 6:15AM
First Siyum B'Chorim 7:00AM
Second Minyan 7:10AM
Second Siyum B'Chorim 8:00AM
Finish Eating Chometz: No later than 10:57AM (GR"A).
Bitul Chometz: Everyone must formally relinquish ownership of any chometz he may have.
This is done twice: once after the search at night, and this year on Monday morning before the
time of removal of chometz in the morning, 11:59AM (GR"A). The legal declaration should be
made in the language you understand. Those who understand the Aramaic text of the
Haggadah should say it.
Biur Chometz: All chometz gathered during the search Sunday night is kept until Monday
morning, March 25, 2013, and should be burned before 11:59AM on Monday morning.
THE SEDER
Arbah Kosos: The four cups of wine that we drink during the course of the seder should be
contained in a receptacle that holds at least four liquid ounces. It is necessary to drink more
than two ounces of this amount each time. A mere sip of wine is not sufficient. (If there is a
question of health which might prevent the drinking of wine, ask a rabbi).
Karpas: Parsley or any ordinary vegetable may be used for this purpose. However, less than a
kazayis (the size of an average olive) should be eaten.
Sh'murah Matzoh: At least three separate sh'murah matzos are necessary for each seder night,
for the purpose of fulfilling the mitzvos of: (a) eating matzoh; (b) Koreich, the matzoh and bitter
herb sandwich; (c) Afikoman. A suggested kazayis would be approximately 2/3 of a machine
sh'murah matzoh or approximately half of a hand sh'murah matzoh. (Note: sh'murah matzoh is
matzoh that, in addition to being kosher for Pesach, was made expressly l'shem matzos
mitzvah, “with the expressed intention that this is to be the matzoh of mitzvah.” Whereas all of
Pesach, any regular matzoh that is kosher for Pesach may be eaten (although it is preferable to
eat only sh'murah matzoh all eight days), at each Seder all adults and children of an educable
age must eat matzoh that is expressly sh'murah.
The Mitzvah of Maror, eating bitter herbs, also requires a minimal amount, a little less than the
size of a small egg. It can, therefore, be fulfilled by eating either Romaine lettuce or freshly
ground horseradish, or a combination of both.
Afikoman should be eaten before chatzos (1:00AM) prior to the saying of Grace. A kazayis of
sh'murah matzoh must be eaten. Do not drink any beverage other than water after the fourth
cup of wine. We may not partake of any food after eating the Afikoman.
Certain Important Steps: The following parts of the seder must be done b'hesaibah (reclining to
the left): the drinking of each of the four cups of wine; the eating of the inital kazayis of matzoh;
the eating of the Koreich (matzoh and maror) sandwich; and the eating of the Afikoman. Since
the purpose of leaning specifically on the left side is for health reasons, even a left-handed
person should recline to his or her left side.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not permit any utensils, pots or pans, or dishes that were used for chometz during the year
to remain available, or within easy reach for the entire Pesach period. They must be placed out
of sight and preferably sealed after being thoroughly cleaned.
Do not allow your sinks, counterspace, or tables to remain uncovered at any time during Pesach
in order to avoid contact with areas that are used for chometz during the year.
Do not kasher earthenware, china, pottery, plastics, pyrex, or glassware used for hot foods.
Neither can utensils which require intricate cleaning such as graters, sieves, food grinders, etc.,
be prepared for Pesach use.
Do not use legumes, corn, rice, peas, or there derivatives for Pesach (unless you are of Sefardic
descent).
Do not use any kinds of prepared foods unless they are produced under the supervision of a
competent and respected rabbinic authority and specified as kosher for Pesach.
Do not use any food containing chometz that was in the possession of a Jew during the period
of Pesach (that is, not sold to a non-Jew). This applies to any manner of use of chometz in any
form, even after Pesach.
PESACH SCHEDULE
Shabbos, March 23, 2013: Shabbos HaGadol
Shacharis 7:00AM, 8:45AM
Shabbos HaGadol Drasha 5:45PM
Men and women are invited to attend
Mincha 6:40PM
Ma'ariv 7:55PM
Shabbos ends 8:00PM
Sunday night, March 24, 2013
Mincha 7:25PM
Bedikas Chometz after 8:18PM
Monday morning, March 25, 2013
First minyan 6:15AM
First Siyum B'chorim 7:00AM
Second minyan 7:10AM
Second Siyum B'chorim 8:00AM
Finish eating chometz no later than 10:57AM
Burn chometz and say Kol Chamira by 11:59AM
Monday night, March 25, 2013: First Seder Night
Candle lighting (with Shehechiyanu) 6:54PM
Mincha 6:59PM
Ma’ariv 7:55PM
Tuesday, March 26, 2013: First Day Pesach
Shacharis 7:00AM, 8:45AM
Mincha 6:55PM
Second Seder Night
Ma'ariv 7:58PM
Candle lighting: not before 8:03PM
Wednesday, March 27, 2013: Second Day Pesach
Shacharis: 7:00AM, 8:45AM
Mincha 6:55PM
Maariv 7:59PM
Yom Tov ends 8:04PM
Thursday, March 28, 2013: 1st Day Chol HaMoed
Shacharis: 6:00, 7:00, & 8:00AM
Mincha 7:00PM
Ma'ariv 7:25PM
Friday, March 29, 2013: 2nd Day/Erev Shabbos Chol HaMoed
Shacharis 6:00, 7:00, 8:00AM
Candle lighting (after 5:48), 6:58PM
Mincha 5:43, 7:03PM
Followed by Maariv
Shabbos, March 30, 2013: Shabbos Chol HaMoed
Shacharis: 7:00AM & 8:45AM
Please remember to eat Seudah Shlishis before Mincha.
Mincha 6:45PM
Ma'ariv 8:02PM
Shabbos Ends: 8:07PM
Sunday, March 31, 2013: 4th Day Chol HaMoed
Shacharis: 7:00 & 8:00AM
Candle lighting (no Shehechiyanu): 7:00PM
Mincha 7:05PM
Followed by Ma'ariv
Monday, April 1, 2013: Seventh Day Pesach
Shacharis 7:00 & 8:45AM
Mincha 7:00PM
Ma'ariv 8:04PM
Candle Lighting: not before 8:09PM
Tuesday, April 2, 2013: Eighth Day Pesach
Shacharis: 7:00 & 8:45AM
Sermon and Yizkor not before 10:30AM
Mincha 6:45PM
Ne'ilas HaChag – All are invited
Ma'ariv 8:06PM
Yom Tov Ends: 8:11PM
Note: Those who authorized Rabbi Feuer to sell chometz on their behalf should wait at least one
hour after Yom Tov before beginning to use chomet