Holidays – Passover
This year, Passover begins after dark on April 12 through the night of April 20.
The first Seder is the evening of April 12.
Mechirat Chametz: Selling of the Chametz
According to the Torah, Jews may neither eat nor own chametz (leavened foods) during the week of Passover. Many chametz 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 chametz foods to a non-Jewish person, who is not obliged to observe the Holiday.
The chametz is sold with the understanding that the seller will not partake of it during the week of Pesach. The chametz 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 chametz is re-purchased immediately after Pesach for your continued use. CLICK HERE to sell your chametz online. A fully completed form, submitted by Wednesday, April 9, 2025, constitutes one’s authorization of Rabbi Sara Metz to sell one’s Chametz on their behalf.
A Virtual Siyum Via Zoom
7:00am Thursday, April 10, 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.
We invite you to join with Rabbi Metz for a “Virtual Siyum” on Thursday, April 10 at 7:00am.
Please check your email for the Zoom link.
Bedikat Chametz – Searching for Leaven
One of the pre-holiday ceremonies is Bedikat Chametz, searching for leaven, when we conduct a candle-lit search through our homes to ensure that no chametz is still present. It is a brief ceremony in which the entire family can and should participate.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL DETAILS FOR 2025,
AS PESACH STARTS SATURDAY NIGHT, APRIL 12.
The times provided are for Tucson, AZ. Please contact Rabbi Metz to obtain times for other locations.
Bedikat Chametz, the formal search for Chametz (food that is not kosher for Passover) that concludes cleaning our homes for Pesach, cannot take place the evening before the Seder, due to Shabbat. Instead, conduct that search on Thursday evening this year. You MAY continue to consume Chametz by following the procedures below, including in our homes, until 10:14 AM on Shabbat morning. You can also use egg matzah for Motzi on Friday night.
The correct sequence for this year is as follows:
BEFORE BEDIKAT CHAMETZ ON THURSDAY, APRIL 10.
- Set aside any Chametz you plan to eat throughout the day on Friday and Shabbat morning, including Shabbat dinner and breakfast. This Chametz will NOT be covered in your search, NOR IN YOUR SALE.
- Thursday evening, at dark: Conduct Bedikat Chametz after dinner at Sweet Tomatoes and thoroughly eliminating or separating out Chametz, as usual. Recite the Bi’ur Chametz formula, found here.
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Friday morning, April 11, Rabbi Metz will sell all Chametz she has been authorized to sell (CLICK HERE).
- Friday morning, by 11:19 AM, repeat the Bi’ur Chametz formula after destroying the Chametz collected the night before. The collected Chametz is typically destroyed by burning.
- The formula did not eliminate any Chametz knowingly still in our possession, set aside for Friday night & Shabbat morning.
- 10:14 AM Shabbat morning, April 12, concludes the permissible time to eat Chametz. Any remaining Chametz must be eliminated or destroyed. As burning is no longer permitted (due to Shabbat), you must find a Shabbat-permissible way to destroy it or remove it from our possession, again by 11:19 AM.
Please complete one of the options below before joining us for Shabbat morning services at 9:30 AM on Saturday, April 12
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Option to destroy Chametz – Place it in a bag, mix with a toxic cleaning powder (rendering it inedible), and discard.
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An option to eliminate Chametz – A modest amount of Chametz might be put in a public garbage receptacle.
- Please do not comsume Chametz for the remainder of Shabbat and begin Pesach following Shabbat on Saturday evening, April 12, after 7:28 pm.
Make sure that all Chametz 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 Chametz.
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.
Click here for a description and blessing from the Rabbinical Assembly.
Pesach starts on Saturday night, April 12.
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