Important Passover Information

When Passover begins on a Saturday night, the timeline leading up to the holiday, and navigating the first Seder itself, gets complicated. We hope this guide helps to clarify the beginning of the holiday. If you have any further questions, please be in touch with Rabbi Tilman.

Thursday, April 10

Siyyum Bekhorot (Fast of the Firstborn) - It is customary for firstborns to fast on Erev Pesah (the day before the holiday) to remember how Jewish firstborns were saved from the 10th plague. And it is a common custom to participate in a siyyum (a celebration of the completion of learning a Jewish text), to get out of the fast. However, since we do not fast on Shabbat itself nor on Friday because that would take away from our anticipation of Shabbat, the fast is moved up to Thursday morning. We will hold our usual Thursday morning minyan at 7am at CBI along with TBEMC, and then minyan will conclude with a siyyum followed by breakfast.

Bedikat Hametz (The Search for Hametz) – On Thursday night we perform the search for hametz in our homes. We say a blessing before the search, then take a feather and paper bag to find the 10 pieces of hametz that are traditionally placed around the house. 

Friday, April 11

Biur Hametz (The Burning of Hametz) – We burn the hametz that was found during the search the previous night before 11:53am. Unlike other years, however, the declaration we normally make for the nullification of hametz is not said until Saturday morning (see below).

Finish cleaning for Pesah. Since we cannot thoroughly clean or cook on Shabbat, we strive to be ready for Pesah when Shabbat begins. We recommend that all of the food eaten over Shabbat is kosher for Pesah. The exception is that you can put aside hallah for Friday night, which you should eat outside or in a way that contains the crumbs. Another option is to use egg matzah to say Hamotzi on Friday night.

Saturday, April 12 – Shabbat HaGadol

The last time one can eat hametz is at 10:46am on Shabbat morning. In addition, we recite the passage that ritually nullifies hametz by 11:52am. We’ll conclude services on Shabbat morning with this text. It is also found in most Haggadahs and on instructions for bedikat hametz.

Since we can no longer eat hametz, we do not use challah to say Hamotzi for Shabbat lunch. In addition, it is customary not to eat Matzah before Pesah so that the first taste of it at the Seder will be special. The preferable option is to use egg matzah - which we don’t use on Pesah - for hamotzi.

Saturday night, April 12 – Passover Begins with the First Seder!

Traditionally the Seder begins after dark because that is when the Israelites left Egypt. On Saturday night, there is an added need to wait until the stars are out and Shabbat is over because we say Havdalah for the end of Shabbat during kiddush over the first cup of wine. However, especially at a Seder with young children, it is impossible to have them fully participate and enjoy the Seder when it starts so late. For this reason, the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law & Standards, in a teshuvah written by Rabbi Joshua Heller, recommends a few options, but the one we feel works best is to begin the Seder with the regular holiday kiddush on the first cup of wine, but then skip the blessings for Havdalah (the berakhot that end "borei me’orei haesh" and "hamavdil bein kodesh l'kodesh") that are included for Saturday night. Continue with the Seder as one usually would, but make sure to reach the second cup of wine once it gets dark. At that point, take a break to light Yom Tov candles, and then, after reciting the prayers for the second cup of wine, add the Havdalah blessings. From there, continue with the rest of the Seder.