This year, Passover falls April 23 through April 30.
The first Seder is the evening of April 22.
Mechirat Hametz: Selling of the Hametz
According to the Torah, Jews may neither eat nor own hametz (leavened foods) during the week of Passover. Many hametz foods can be disposed of prior to Pesach. Some cannot without significant loss. This problem can be resolved by selling, according to an ancient formula, any hametz foods to a non-Jewish person, who is not obliged to observe the Holiday.
The hametz is sold with the understanding that the seller will not partake of it during the week of Pesach. The hametz technically becomes the property of the non-Jewish person. However, it remains on the seller’s property, usually in a designated corner of the house or garage, “rented” to the non-Jewish person. The hametz is re-purchased immediately after Pesach for your continued use. CLICK HERE to sell your hametz online.
Ma'ot Hittim
In past generations, each Jewish community maintained a special fund to provide flour for baking matzah for those in need. This fund, known as ma'ot hittim, soon became an all-inclusive fund for distributing food and clothing at Pesach time. As we remember what it means to be enslaved, so do we take upon ourselves the obligation to provide for the needs of the those enslaved by hunger, especially at this time of year. I will accept the responsibility for helping you to sell your hametz and fulfill the mitzvah of ma'ot hittim. CLICK HERE to fill out the online form and return it to Rabbi Metz before Monday, April 15.
A Virtual Siyum Via Zoom
7:00am Monday, April 22, 2022
Ta’ Anit Bechorim – Fast of the First Born
It is customary that all first-born fast on the eve of Pesach commemorating the plague of the first born before the Exodus from Egypt. First born are excused from fasting if they attend a Siyum (end, completion or conclusion), in which we celebrate the conclusion of studying a significant portion of Rabbinic literature – this year we will study Mishna Brachot.
We invite you to join with Rabbi Metz for a “Virtual Siyum” on Monday, April 22 at 7:00am.
Please check your email for the Zoom link.
Bedikat Hametz – Searching for Leaven
One of the pre-holiday ceremonies is Bedikat Hametz, searching for leaven, when we conduct a candle-lit search through our homes to ensure that no hametz is still present. It is a brief ceremony in which the entire family can and should participate.
Make sure that all hametz has been removed or locked away, with the exception of what will be needed for the morning. Carefully hide some crumbs of bread. This is to ensure that the blessing and the ceremony will not be performed in vain. Take a candle, a feather or brush, and a box or cloth for the crumbs, and recite this blessing:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melekh Ha’Olam Asher Kid’Shanu B’Mitzvotav V’Tsivanu Al Bi’Ur Hametz.
Blessed are you, O Lord, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to remove all leaven.
Perform the search and gather up all the crumbs; this is a family project. Tie the crumbs in a bundle, which will be burned the next morning. Recite the following: All manner of leaven, which is in my possession, that I have not seen or removed, shall be annulled and considered as the dust of the earth.
The search should take place after dark on Sunday, April 21.
On Monday, April 22, finish eating hametz by 10:12am, and burn the leaven by 11:17am, reciting the blessing above.
Click here for a more thorough description from the Rabbinical Assembly.
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