Pesah (Passover) 2022

Passover is Zeman Heiruteinu, the Season of Our Freedom from Slavery in Egypt. The highlight of the festival is the Seder, the ritualized “retelling” of the story of the Exodus. We are guided by special songs, foods, and symbols—including matzah (unleavened bread), maror (bitter herbs), haroset (a tasty dish of apples, nuts, and wine), 4 cups of wine, and more. In preparation for the holiday, Jews take special care to clear their houses of hametz (leaven), which cannot be consumed throughout the eight-day festival. The liturgy of the first day of the holiday includes Tefilat Tal, the Prayer for Dew upon the conclusion of the rainy season in Israel. Services on the last day include the Yizkor memorial prayers, and each daily service includes a special Torah reading.

resources

Rabbinical Assembly Pesah Guide

The Pesah Guide for 5782 is now available, including an addendum with additional insights for this year. 

Mekhirat Hametz—Selling of Hametz  

If one cannot completely remove all hametz from the home during Pesah, Jewish law provides for the conditional sale of hametz to a non-Jew during Pesah. Upon the conclusion of Pesah, the hametz reverts to its original owner.

It is customary to make a contribution for ma’ot hittin, providing Pesah food for the needy, when selling hametz. To sell your hametz, click here. Hametz must be sold by Thursday, April 14 and will revert to its original owner at the conclusion of Pesah on Saturday evening, April 23. Click here to download the form.

Bedikat Hametz—Search for the Hametz and Bi'ur Hametz—burning hametz

The search for leavened bread takes place on Thursday evening, April 14, after sunset. Members of the family, equipped with a lighted candle, go from room to room gathering crumbs of bread to ensure that the house has been cleansed of all hametz.  Many families have a custom of hiding pieces of bread in order to guarantee that something may be found.  

Special b’dikat hametz sets (including a feather, spoon, candle, and instructions) are available from the Sisterhood Judaica Shop. The last time to eat hametz is 10:55 AM on Friday, April 15. Hametz must be destroyed before 12:00 PM.

Siyyum Bekhorim—Siyyum for the First Born

On Friday morning, April 15, all first-borns are urged to join the Siyyum Bekhorim following the 7:15 AM minyan. This observance reminds us that when the first-born of Egypt were slain during the Tenth Plague, the Israelite first-born were saved. In appreciation for this redemption, it is incumbent upon first-born Jewish males to fast on the day before Pesah. This responsibility is nullified when one celebrates the completion of text study. 

At the siyyum we will honor the students of Rabbi Berkowitz’s Talmud class and celebrate their learning, which nullifies the obligation for first-borns to fast on the eve of Passover. We will conclude the siyyum with a Seudat Mitzvah, a celebratory meal provided through the generosity of Micki and Lowell Gordon.

Sisterhood Passover Flowers

Enhance your holiday table or send flowers to a family member or friend. A beautiful flower arrangement always complements a holiday table. Let B’nai Israel Sisterhood do the legwork so you have less to think of during your holiday preparations. 

$60/arrangement (local delivery)
$70/arrangement (out of area delivery)

The order deadline has been extended until Friday, April 8. Arrangements will arrive in time for the holiday. Click here to download an order form. For questions, contact Linda Heller.

Shop for Passover at the Sisterhood Gift Shop Online - Pick Up at Your Convenience!

If you are needing any items for Passover, please know that in addition to shopping in-store, you can also browse the Sisterhood Judaica Shop ONLINE. You can view all of the merchandise, pay online, and pick up either in the shop or at a convenient pick-up table at your convenience. Click here to browse and shop today.

Online resources

Large Print Haggadot From the Jewish Braille Institute of America

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Haggadahs-R-Us is again offering free downloads of several hagaddot. Click here for more information.

Learn about the history and structure of the Haggadah at MyJewishLearning.com. Check out these online Haggadah resources:

Traditional Haggadah by Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner. Find other Passover materials including song parodies at his site, www.jewishfreeware.org.

Make your own Haggadah at haggadot.com.

Feast of Freedom Passover Haggadah The Feast of Freedom is available in full as a free PDF. Print copies may be purchased here.

Passover Music by Cantor Josh Perlman