Guide - Schedule
Pesach is the eight day festival of freedom. It begins on 15 Nisan, this year it begins Wednesday night, April 8 and ends Thursday eveining, April 16. Pesach celebrates the miraculous redemption of the Jewish people from their oppressive slavery in Egypt.
Before Passover
It is forbidden to eat Chametz-all leavened foods that contain wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt-on Passover. So collect products containing Chametz and isolate them in a designated "Chametz Closet." Then clear the house of any possible remaining Chametz: empty clothes pockets, vacuum cleaner bags, even the pet food goes into the Closet. Since you'll use a separate set of dishes for Passover, the Chametz dishes get locked up too. Now stock up on Kosher-for-Passover items.
Chametz for Sale
Because it is even prohibited to "own" Chametz during Passover, lock your "Chametz Closet" and arrange to have its contents sold to a non-Jew by filling out a "Mechirat Chametz" form. Sounds complicated? www.ejcc.eu or www.passover.org makes it easy:
Tuesday, April 7: Search for Chametz 20:19
At nightfall begin the "formal search" of the house for Chametz (*blessing 1). Traditionally, we use a candle to light the way, a spoon (as a shovel), feather (as a broom) and a paper bag to collect any Chametz found. After the search, place everything you found in a conspicuous place to be burned in the morning.
Wednesday, April 8 ~ Fast of First Born
8:00 AM: Shacharit Service followed by Siyum. And a once in 28 year opurtunity to say a speacial blessing on the sun.
Rue du Cornet 22
Wednesday, April 8
Burn or Sell all remaining Chametz before 12:30PM
In the morning burn all the Chametz found during the previous night's formal search.
Finish eating Chametz before 11:30 AM
Nullify chametz before 12:37
After cleaning the house, and selling and burning the Chametz, the head of the household says the appropriate prayers (*blessing 2), verbally disowning any Chametz that might have been overlooked.
Wednesday, April 8 Pesach Begins
The first night candles are lit (*blessings 3 and 4).
Holiday services 20:00
At nightfall the Seder begins with 4 cups of wine, 4 questions, matzah, the Pesach story and bitter herbs.
Prepare to Celebrate
But wait. To build an appetite for the Seder one abstains from eating any Seder plate foods today, especially Matza. So if you're a lover of bitter herbs and raw onions, stay out of the kitchen.
For Pesach seder reservations and information please contact events@ejcc.eu.
Thursday, April 9 ~ 1st Day of Passover
10:00Holiday Morning Services
20:30 Holiday evening services
21:20 PM: Light Holiday Candles
Before the second Seder begins candles are lit at sunset from a pre-existing flame (*blessings 3 and 4). Tonight we begin to count the Omer, which lasts for 49 days. What's the Omer? In the HolyTemple the Omer was an offering of barley taken from the first grain of the new crop. We count seven weeks, from the bringing of the first Omer offering (Passover) until the day we received the Torah (the Festival of Shavuot). The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot represent the 49 steps of mystical self-purification and preparation our people went through between leaving Egypt (Passover) and receiving the Torah (Shavuot).
For Pesach seder reservations and information please contact events@ejcc.eu.
Friday, April 10 ~ 2nd Day of Passover
10:00Holiday Morning Service
19:00 Friday night service
20:11 Shabbat candels
Saturday, April 11
10:00 Shabatt morning service
Sundayday, Mondday & Tuesday, April 12 - 14 ~ Chol Hamoed
Holiday Morning Minyan Rue de Cornet 22 9:00
Four Intermediates Only
In between the first two and last two days of Passover, go ahead and function relatively normally. The only exception is, like your mother keeps telling you, you shouldn't work too hard. But keep the wines flowing; it's a custom to drink a glass of wine every day of Passover.
Tuesday, April 14
19:00 Holiday service
20:18 Light Candles
Light candles the seventh night (*blessing 3).This day marks the Miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and our total liberation from Egypt. In commemoration, we stay up all night studying Torah.
Wednesday, April 15 ~ Shevi Shel Pesach
10:00 Holiday Morning Services
Light Candles after 21:31
After nightfall light candles from a pre-existing flame (*blessing 3). This day, the final day of Passover, emphasizes an even higher level of freedom. It is dedicated to our imminent and final redemption.
Thursday, April 16, ~ Last Day of Passover ~ Yizkor
10:00 AM: Holiday Morning Service
11:00 AM: Yizkor Memorial Service
21:32 Holiday Ends
Nightfall marks the official conclusion of Passover.
