Pesach Schedule

Thursday, March 25

Taanit Bechorim

Fast for male first born sons begins: 5:31am and ends 7:55pm. if you did not attend a siyum, if it is difficult for you to fast, and you cannot participate in any siyum, you can rely on a lenient opinion that there is no fast day at in this particular year ( חזון עובדיה עמוד רטו).

  • Shacharit: 6:30am

  • Siyum Masechet: 7:20am (via Zoom).

  • Mincha and Arvit: 6:55am

  • Search for Chametz: after 7:55pm

Friday, March 26

  • Shacharit: 6:30am

  • Burn Chametz: by 11:45am.
    Bitul Chametz not recited, You should only keep the amount of bread you need for the Friday night and Shabbat morning meals.

  • Candle lighting : 6:57 p.m

  • Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:55pm

Saturday, March 27 — Parashat Tzav/Shabbat HaGadol/Erev Pesach

  • Shacharit: 6:30am ( On Shabbat morning everyone should rise from bed early in order to finish the two loaves of bread before the time of chametz prohibition.)

  • Chametz Not Eaten: after: 10:34am

  • Bitul Chametz Recited: by 11:48am and remaining crumbs flushed.

  • Mincha: 6:55pm — Followed by

    • Class with Rabbi Tal ( Shabbat Hagadol)

  • Arvit: 7:30pm

  • Candle Lighting and Seder: after 8:00pm

  • Finish the Afikomen: by 1:03am

Eating Matzah

Our Sages have forbidden us to eat matzah during the day of 14 Nisan (Saturday, March 27), so that when we eat matzah at the Seder, it will be obvious that we are eating it for the sake of the mitzvah. However, you can eat matzah Friday night.

You can also eat matzah ashira (matzah made from wine, flour, and sugar) on Saturday. Egg matzah is also allowed. You should not use matzah ashira or egg matzah to fulfill the mitzvah of eating matzah at the seder since the Torah specifies that we must eat lechem oni — bread of the poor. That means matzah made only with flour and water.

Candle Lighting

Candle lighting must be lit from a pre-existing fire. You can use a flame from a stove or a yahrzeit candle. You can transfer the flame from a pre-existing source to the candle using a match. You just can’t strike the match to light a flame.

Seder Preparation and Kiddush

You need to say the following blessings for Kiddush

  • Yayin — the blessing of borei peri hagefen over the wine

  • Kiddush — the blessing of Kiddush itself

  • Ore — The blessing of borei me’orei ha’esh over a flame

  • Havdalah — The blessing hamavdil ben kodesh lakodesh

  • Shehecheyanu — Expressing gratitude to Gd for letting us celebrate this holiday

Sunday, March 28 — Yom Tov Rishon

  • Shacharit: (Tikkun hatal): 8:45am (Hodu)

  • Class with Rabbi Tal : 6:30pm (The Mitzvah of Simchat Yom Tov)

  • Arvit following by Sefirat HaOmer: 7: 30pm

  • Candlelighting, Seder, and Kiddush: after 8:01 p.m.

  • Finish the Afikomen: by 1:03am

Monday, March 29: Yom Tov Sheni

  • Shacharit: 8:45am

  • Mincha: 7:00pm

    • Followed by a class with Rabbi Tal

  • Arvit and Sefirat HaOmer 2 : 8:00pm.

  • Motzei Yom Tov: 8:01pm

Tuesday, March 30 – Thursday, April 1 — Chol HaMoed

  • Shacharit: 6:30am.

  • Mincha & Arvit: 7:00pm

Friday, April 2 — Erev Yom Tov

  • Shacharit: 6:30am

  • Mincha/ Arvit: 7:00pm

  • Candlelighting: 7:05pm

Shabbat, April 3 — Shevi’i Shel Pesach

  • Shacharit: 8:45am

  • Mincha: 7:00pm

  • Class with Rabbi Tal: 7:25pm

  • Arvit and Sefirat HaOmer: 7:45pm

  • Candlelighting: after 8:15pm

Sunday, April 4 — Acharon Shel Pesach

  • Shacharit: 8:45am

  • Mincha: 7:05pm

  • Class with Rabbi Tal: 7:35pm

  • Arvit and Sefirat HaOmer: 8:10pm

  • Motzei Yom Tov: 8:10pm

On Eating Chametz

  • Although you can eat chametz right after Pesach ends, you need to wait until 9:45pm to eat chametz you sold before Pesach to give the Vaad time to buy it back.

  • You should wait until after 9:10pm to buy donuts at Dunkin Donuts to make sure that they are not specifically making donuts for us on Pesach