Passover Portal 5785

Getting Ready for Pesach 5785
Saturday, April 10 - Sunday, April 20
Be sure to check your email for any additional updates.

Read through for a Passover to do list, calendar,and Seder resources. 

RITUALS | SERVICE TIMES | KEEPING KOSHER/SEDER RESOURCES | GIFT SHOP

PEASCH AND SEDER RESOURCES | WHEN PESACH BEGINS ON SATURDAY NIGHT  | GETTING READY FOR PESACH 5785

Sell Your Chametz/Mechirat Hametz

Forms must be received no later than Friday, April 11 at 9:30 AM as Rabbi Katz will be selling the hametz by 10:00 AM.
Please sell your hametz to Rabbi Katz as your proxy using this online form.

This year because Passover begins on Saturday night, the sale takes effect Saturday morning, April 12 at 11:50 AM. But you may not eat your hametz after Saturday morning, at 10:44 AM.

Note that Rabbi Katz will arrange a post-Pesach hametz “buy back” on Sunday evening, April 20 at 9:30 PM. Do not use or unpack hametz before then.

Click here for a printable form.

Maot Hittin

Maot Hittin helps needy persons here/abroad celebrate the holiday. Proceeds also provide scholarships to educational Jewish summer camps and Israel programs through our Passport to Jewish Education Program.
Donate Here!

Be a Host/ Be a Guest

If you would like to be a guest at a seder or can host additional guests at your seders, please call Rabbi Katie Greenberg by Friday, April 4 (Phone: 718-543-8400 ext. 1, or email: engagement@csair.org.)

Bake Your Own Matzah
Wednesday, April 9, 5:00-9:00 PM

Join Rabbi Ethan Tucker for a special opportunity to bake your matzah for the seder. Learn a bit about the laws of matzah baking and get ready to move quickly to get the dough in the oven. This activity is intended for adults; older children can attend if they are being fully and actively supervised by a parent. 
CSAIR Kitchen/Social Hall

Hagalat Keilim/ Kashering for Passover
Wednesday, April 9, 7:45 - 9:00 PM

Come kasher your utensils and cooking items for Passover. For questions about what can be kashered please email Rabbi Katz.

Fast of the Firstborn and Siyyum

A firstborn (whether of the mother or the father) should fast on the day before Pesach to commemorate the deliverance from Egypt. It is the custom to make a public completion of the study of a tractate of the Talmud (siyyum) before Pesach and, to celebrate, invite the firstborn to eat a festive meal for this mitzvah. 
This year, the fast is observed on Thursday, April 10. 

The fast begins at 5:10 AM. 

There will be siyyum at 8:00 AM (following Shacharit which begins at 7:15 AM.)  For those who attend the siyyum, there will be a light hametz (!) meal afterwards which ends the fast. 

For those who do not attend the siyyum, the fast ends at 8:02 PM.

Pick Up Bedikat Hametz Kits

Monday, April 1-Wednesday April 3 and Monday April 7- Thursday, April 10, from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Grab a kit to check for hametz in the synagogue office.

Bedikat Hametz and Biur Hametz - Checking for and Burning Hametz

It is customary to search for hametz the night before the seder. This year, the search with the blessing and the formula (see Kol Hamira in the Haggadah) takes place on Thursday, April 10 after 8:12PM.

On Friday, April 11 by 11:50 AM burn a small amount of hametz (this year, we hold off saying Kol Hamira until Shabbat morning.)  Our neighbors welcome anyone from CSAIR to come and burn hametz in their driveway from 8:30-10:00 AM.  Afterwards enjoy coffee and orange juice and a donut! (Call the CSAIR office for the family address).

The last time for me to eat hametz is Saturday, April 12 at 10:50 AM. By 11:50 AM recite the traditional formula (see Kol Hamira in the Haggadah) then. We will also recite it in shul. 

Katz-Klein Family Pesach Nut Game

Games played with nuts (usually filbert or walnuts) are an old Pesach tradition. They keep the kids (and some of the adults) awake late into the night. 
Rabbi Katz’s Zayda, Al Klein, taught him to play this game. As Rabbi Katz recalled, “We would play it as the adults lingered over dinner. When it was time for the Afikoman we would return to the table with lots of energy.”
Here are the instructions:

 Give each player 5-10 nuts. Place one odd shaped nut at an equal distance from all of the players.

Take turns rolling your nut towards the odd shaped nut. If you hit it, you get to take the pot (all of the other nuts that have been rolled to the center, minus the odd nut). If you hit another nut, take it and the nut you rolled. The game is over when someone has amassed all of the nuts or when it’s time to find the afikoman.

NOTE: After services on the first two mornings of Pesach, Shabbat, and the last mornings, Rabbi Katz invites all players to a Nut Game Tournament. Nuts will be provided.

Counting the Omer 5785
Sunday, April 13 - Monday, May 31

Erev Shavuot – Chag Sameach!
Join us for our Tikkun Leyl Shavuot study session!
Counting the Omer Schedule

Print Passover Schedule
 

Thursday, April 10

Fast of the First Born/Services 7:15 AM/siyyum 8:00 AM
The fast begins at 5:10 AM. 
There will be siyyum at 8:00 AM (following Shacharit which begins at 7:15 AM.)  For those who attend the siyyum, there will be a light hametz (!) meal afterwards which ends the fast. 
For those who do not attend the siyyum, the fast ends at 8:02 PM.

Bedikat Hametz, After 8:12 PM
Conduct Search for hametz 
Recite the blessing/berakhah and Kol Hamira

Friday, 11 April

Bi'ur Hametz, 11:50 AM
Burn a small amount of hametz (this year, we hold off saying Kol Hamira until Shabbat morning.)  Our neighbors welcome anyone from CSAIR to come and burn hametz in their driveway from 8:30-10:00 AM.  Afterwards enjoy coffee and orange juice and a donut! (Call the CSAIR office for the family address).

You may continue eating hametz all day.

Erev Shabbat Mincha/Maariv/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:00 PM

Candle Lighting 7:13 PM 
Light a candle that will last until Shabbat is over or until the end of Yom Tov to use to light for Passover.

Saturday, April 12-Shabbat HaGadol-Erev Pesach

Shacharit, 9:15 AM
Kiddush is sponsored by Sarah and Michael Stern in honor of the  aufruf for their son William Stern and his fiance Ariel Gleaner.
Sponsored kiddush will be Kosher for Passover with egg matzah.

Eat last hametz by 10:44 AM

Recite Kol Hamira by 11:50 AM
If you have hametz, discard it by putting it out in the trash and recite “Kol Hamira.”

TENTATIVE-Early Mincha/Maariv, 5:45 PM
Pre-Seder minyan will take place if only we have a minyan signed up HERE. Sign up required by Wednesday (4/9/25 at 5:00 PM.) 

Light Candles after 8:13 PM
Transfer from an existing flame.

First Seder
There are various customs regarding starting the seder and having it be “at night.” It is preferable to wait until three stars (8:15 PM.) Some start as early as sunset (7:32 PM). Others start earlier doing non-statutory parts of the seder but make kidddush or Avadim Hayinu after three stars.

Sunday, April 13-Yom Tov Pesach 1

Late Shacharit, 9:45 AM
Note special post-seder time!
Latest time to say the Shema, 9:37 AM

TENTATIVE-Early Mincha/Maariv, 5:45 PM 
Pre-Seder minyan will take place if only we have a minyan signed up HERE. Sign up required by Wednesday (4/9/25 at 5:00 PM.) 

Light Candles after 8:13 PM
Transfer from an existing flame.

Second Seder
There are various customs regarding starting the seder and having it be “at night.” It is preferable to wait until three stars (8:15 PM.) Some start as early as sunset (7:32 PM). Others start earlier doing non-statutory parts of the seder but make kidddush or Avadim Hayinu after three stars.

Monday, April 14, Yom Tov Pesach 2

Late Shacharit, 9:45 AM
Note special post-seder time!
Pesach Kiddush

Latest time to say the Shema, 9:37 AM 

Maariv, 7:15 PM 

End of Yom Tov, 8:15 PM

Tuesday, April 15 Hol HaMoed Pesach

Maariv, 7:30 PM 

Wednesday, April 16 Hol HaMoed Pesach

Maariv, 7:30 PM

Thursday, April 17 Hol HaMoed Pesach

Shacharit, 7:15 AM

Maariv, 7:30 PM 

Friday, April 18, Hol HaMoed Pesach

Erev Shabbat Mincha/Maariv/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:00 PM 

Light Candles, 7:20 PM

Saturday, April 19, Yom Tov Pesach 7

Shacharit, 9:15  AM  with Shir HaShirim
Sponsored Pesach Kiddush

Post Kiddush talk with Dr. Ace Leveen, “ Singing of Love in the Song of Songs: Why at Pesach?”
The Song of Songs is beautiful poetry that also has a significant afterlife not only for the Rabbis but also  in medieval and modern times. Its love of the natural world certainly reverberates in our time as spring accompanies our celebration of Pesach.

Mincha/Maariv, 7:20 PM 

Sunday, April 20, Yom Tov Pesach 8 

Shacharit, 9:15  AM
Yizkor, 10:45 AM

Mincha/Maariv, 7:20 PM 

Yom Tov ends, at 8:20 PM 

Hametz buy back, 9:30 PM 

Note from Rabbi Katz about the Rabbinical Assembly Guide and Seder Resources:

While some people grew up watching parents or grandparents prepare for the holidays, others are just now exploring the ways these rituals help make Jewish values concrete. Whether you are a “veteran” of Pesach cleaning/preparation or a newcomer, I hope the information on our website on making your home kosher for Pesach and resources for making the seder come alive are helpful –  and not too overwhelming!

I offer several resources for preparing your home for Pesach: 

The first in the Rabbinical Assembly Guide and other resources from the Conservative Movement. See my notes about the guide.

The second is the Hadar Pesach Preparation Guide and other resources from Hadar. 

While my practice is generally more aligned with the Hadar Guide, each has valuable information and perspective.
Here are links to Seder Sparks compiled over many years. Also readings for a Seder of Hope and Every Generation, a reading composed last year responding to hate.

Here is a packet of readings we compiled last year in response to October 7. Unfortunately, much of it is still relevant. 
And of course, some Recipes!

The CSAIR gift shop has a variety of Passover Seder Plates, Matzah Covers, Afikomen Bags, Haggadot, Toys, and Frogs. Maybe it is time to check and refresh your Passover supplies. Passover sale 30% off.

Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions to CSAIRgifts@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting our synagogue through the Sisterhood Judaica Gift Shop.