Rabbi Samuels will be delivering this year’s Shabbat HaGadol Derashah on

“Here Comes the Sun: Birkhat HaChammah and the Dawn of Redemption.”  This year’s Shabbat HaGadol Derashah in sponsored by the Sassieni family in loving memory of Mr. Fred Jakubovic, Efraim ben Zev z”l, beloved father of Valerie Sassieni whose yahrzeit is this Shabbat. Minchah will be at 6:30 PM, followed by the Shiur.  Maariv will be at 8:00 PM

 

Bedikat Chametz:  After dark, i.e., 7:47 PM. For families with young children, if necessary begin after Shekiah (sunset) 7:18 PM. Our custom is to place 10 pieces of chametz for which we search by flashlight.  You may use a candle, but they are fire hazards, and do not allow from free-and-close-up searches.  The berakhah “al biur chametz” and kol chamira are recited.

 

Hopefully, by now, our homes are for the most part free from chametz, nonetheless, this is supposed to be a bona fide search and not just an educational game for the children.  One should utilize this opportunity to search through coat pockets, medicine cabinets, pocket books, desk drawers, utility closets, etc… Invariably, every year I find, heretofore, unaccounted for chametz during this search: little candies in pockets (don’t tell my dentist!), a bottle of Nyquil, cheerios under the radiator. 

 

 

Ta’anit Bechorim – Fast of the First Born:

The fast starts at 4:48 AM.  We will daven Shacharit at 6:15 AM and have a siyyum and seudat mitzvah afterwards.  Parents of young children, please remember that traditionally fathers fast for their under-age first born sons, unless they attend a siyyum.  This year's siyyum is sponsored by Gale and Richard Wilgoren in loving memory of Mr. Benjamin Kline, Binyamin ben Zev z"l, beloved father of Gale Wilgoren whose yahrzeit is the first night of Pesach.

 

If you are traveling or otherwise cannot attend a siyyum, you may redeem your obligation to fast with Tzedakah. 

 

Birkhat HaChammah – The Once-Every-Twenty-Eight Year Blessing:

According to our ancient Sages, every 28 years the sun occupies the same position in the sky relative to the earth as it did at the moment of its creation.  To mark this occasion and appreciate with deep wonder and gratitude the ongoing natural miracles in our life, the Talmud ordains that on this occasion we recite the blessing, “BA-RUCH A-TA ADO-NAI ELO-HEINU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM  OSEH  MA’ASEH BEREISHIT.”  This blessing should ideally be said: after sunrise, which is at 6:15 AM; with a minyan, though this is not required;  and by 9:16  AM, although according to some opinions it may be said until midday at 12:48 PM.  Beyond the blessing, there are other prayers that are additionally said as well and which Rabbi Samuels will distribute.  Come learn more about this unique religious opportunity at Rabbi Samuels’s Shabbat HaGadol Derashah.  We will recite this blessing together as a community after the Siyyum on erev Pesach.

 

By now, our homes should be virtually chametz free and all set for Pesach.

The latest time to eat chametz on Wednesday morning is at 10:11 AM.

 

Chametz must be disposed by 11:29 AM.  Despite the fact that we will nullify our possession of any remaining chametz with our recitation of Kol Chamira, our custom is to burn a tiny bit of our chametz to fulfull Rabbi Akiva’s opinion that one must burn chametz to destroy it.  Kol Chamira is recited at the time of burning.  Once again, the Fire house in Brighton on Chestnut Street will have a Biur Chametz fire barrel.

 

We are prohibited from eating Matzah or anything baked with Matzah on Erev Pesach. This is in order to differentiate between mitzvat matzah and discretionary eating of matzah. This prohibition includes cakes and cookies made from matzah meal. However, cooked matzah products, such as knaidlach (Matzah balls) are permitted. Other foods should only be eaten in moderation from mid-afternoon and on in order to have an appetite for the Seder.

 

Eruv Tavshilin: In order to allow us to cook on Yom Tov for our Shabbat meals, we need to make an Eruv Tavshilin. Please remember to put aside on Erev Pesach one hard boiled egg and one matzah and say the following berakhah: “BA-RUCH A-TA ADO-NAI ELO-HEINU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM ASHER KID’SHANU B’MITZ-VOTAV V’TZI-VANU AL MITZVAT ERUV.”  Immediately after saying this blessing, we declare the following: “Through this eruv may we be permitted to bake, cook, insulate, kindle flame, prepare, and do anything necessary on the Festival for the sale of the Sabbath, for us and all who dwell in this community.”

 

Candle Lighting Times: For the first two nights, the Berakhot to be recited are "le-hadlik ner shel Yom Tov" and "Shehechiyanu."  It is a proper custom to give Tzedakah before candle lighting on Shabbat and Yom Tov, and also to see the moment of candle lighting as a moment of transcendence and an opportunity to compose personal prayers to Hashem.

  

 

Candle lighting time for Wednesday evening, April 8, is at 7:02 PM  Seder after 8:02 PM (7:48 for families with small children and seniors.

Candle lighting and Seder time for Thursday Night, April 9 is 8:04 PM (7:50 PM for families with small children or seniors).

Candle lighting for Friday Night, April 10 is before 7:04 PM

Candle lighting time for 7th Night of Passover, Tuesday, April 14 is 7:08 PM.

Candle lighting time for the 8th (Last) Night of Passover, Wednesday, April 15, not before 8:11 PM 

Yizkor is said on the 8th Day of Pesach, Thursday, April 16th.

Pesach ends with nightfall on Thursday, April 16th at 8:13 PM.

 

Note: Those who sold their Chametz, should wait until 9:15 PM before using it.