בס“ד SELLING THE HAMETZ

It is prohibited to possess Hametz on Passover. One is not allowed to derive any benefit from Hametz. Furthermore, Hametz which was in the possession of a Jew on Passover may not be used after the holiday. Any Hametz, therefore, which cannot be consumed or disposed of before Passover must be sold to a non-Jew.

The legal intricacies covering this transfer of property are many and only a competent Rabbi should be entrusted with its execution.

All utensils which have been used for Hametz, as well as any Hametz being sold, should be put aside in an accessible place. It is best that the utensils be thoroughly cleansed of any trace of Hametz. If possible, these items included in the sale of Hametz should be stored in a locked room with the key out of reach. To avoid having Hametz in your possession before Passover, please fill out the enclosed

Mehirat (selling) Hametz form and RETURN IT TO RABBI

BENCHIMOL BEFORE SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020.

The Hametz will be repurchased for you approximately an hour after Pesach, so please do not open your Hametz cupboards until THURSDAY NIGHT, APRIL 16 AT 9:00 PM.

Please Note:  Those people traveling EAST (i.e. Europe, Israel etc… - to an earlier Time Zone than New York), should sell their Hametz at the place of their destination and NOT through the Synagogue.  If you are traveling within the time zone of New York, or west of New York, and are selling your home and/or car for the entire holiday please: A) give the keys of your home and car to a neighbor or someone who will be in New York, B) write the name and phone number of that person, so that the keys can be accessed during the holidays of Pesah.  If you are sending your forms through the mail, please make sure that there will be ample time for them to arrive before the above-mentioned date. Rabbi Benchimol will not be responsible for the forms that come after that date. Make sure the Rabbi has your form by

Please fill out the entire form including date, your signature and cell phone number. DELEGATION OF POWER OF SALE OF HAMETZ Know that I, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Benchimol to act in my place and stead, and in my behalf to sell all Hametz possessed by me (knowingly or unknowingly) as defined by the Torah and Rabbinic Law (e.g. Hametz, possible Hametz mixtures). Also Hametz that tends to harden and to adhere to inside surfaces of pans, pots or cooking and usable utensils. Also to lease all places wherein the Hametz owned by me may be found, especially in the premises located (please specify location of Hametz within premises): ______and elsewhere.

Rabbi Benchimol has the full right to sell and lease by transactions, as he deems fit and proper for such time which he believes necessary in accordance with the Halacha. Also do I hereby give the said Rabbi Benchimol full power and authority to appoint a substitute in his stead with full power to sell and to lease as provided herein. The above given power is in conformity with all Torah, Rabbinical regulations and laws, and also in accordance, with laws of the State of New York and the United States. And to this I hereby affix my signature on the______day of ______(Hebrew month) in the year 5780 / _____ day of ______in the year 2020.

Signature:______Please Print: Name:______

Address:______

______

City:______

State:______Zip:______

Telephone:______

PLEASE RETURN TO RABBI BENCHIMOL BEFORE SUNDAY APRIL 5, 2020. PESACH 2020 SCHEDULE Tuesday, APRIL 7 - Bedikat Hametz AFTER 8:10 PM Searching for Hametz Wednesday, APRIL 8- Erev Pesach BEGINS 5:02 AM Taanit Bechorim, fast of the first born starts For those who choose not to fast, you can attend a Siyum with Seudat Mitzva after Shahrit 7:00 AM 1st Shahrit Minyan (followed by Siyum at approx. 7:45 AM) 8:30 AM 2nd Shahrit Minyan (followed by Siyum at approx. 9:15 AM) 10:19 AM Latest time to EAT Hametz 11:38 AM Latest time to BURN Hametz TAVSHILIN (to permit one to cook on Friday for – details on back page) 7:10 PM Candle lighting 7:00 PM Minha followed by Arvit ———————————————————————First Seder Thursday, APRIL 9- First Day of Pesach 8:30 AM Shahrit -change to “Morid HaTal” from Mussaf 7:10 PM Minha followed by Kabbalat Shabbat (at night count 1st Day of Omer) AFTER 8:12 PM Candle lighting from pre-existing flame————————————————– Second Seder Friday, April 10 - Second Day of Pesach 8:30 AM Shahrit 7:10 PM Minha followed by Shiur & Arvit (at night count 2nd Day of Omer) BEFORE 7:12 PM Candle lighting Shabbat, April 11—HOL HAMOED SHABBAT 8:30 AM Shahrit 6:45 PM Minha

7:15 PM

8:10 PM Arvit—change to “Barchenu’ with in Arvit Amida

8:14 PM Shabbat Ends—(at night count 3rd Day of Omer) HOL HAMOED PESACH—Sunday, Monday & Tuesday (APRIL 12—14) See the website for Shahrit schedule (www.sepharad.org) 7:00 PM Minha followed by Arvit Tuesday, April 14 - Erev Hag 7:16 PM Candle lighting 7:10 PM Minha followed by Arvit (at night count 6th Day of Omer) 11:30 PM—1 AM Midnight Study Wednesday, April 15 - Seventh Day of Pesach 8:30 AM Shahrit AFTER 8:19 PM Candle lighting, from pre-existing flame 7:15 PM Minha followed by Shiur & Arvit (at night count 7th Day of Omer) Thursday, April 16 - Eighth Day of Pesach 8:30 AM Shahrit (WITH YIZKOR) 7:15 PM Minha followed by Shiur & Arvit (at night count 8th Day of Omer) 8:20 PM Yom Tov ends Do not open your Hametz cupboards until 9:00 PM SPECIAL FUND FOR PESACH There is a universal Jewish custom to arrange a special fund before Pesach known as Ma’ot Hittim. Ma’ot Hittim (literally, money for wheat) is given to poor people to help them purchase Matzot and wine for Pesach. If you would like to participate in this Mitzvah, please speak to the Rabbi. CHECKING FOR HAMETZ! We ask everyone to please check their belongings (Talit & Tefilin bags) to make sure that no food particles (candies, Hametz etc…) remain in the Synagogue before Pesach.

PRE-EXISTING FLAME We are forbidden to create a fire during Yom Tov or Rosh Hashanah. However, we may carry the light of an existing flame and use it for cooking purposes on Yom Tov. To light candles, we need an existing fire such as a 26-hour Yahrtzeit candle or a burning stove, from which we borrow a fire to light the candles. CANDLE LIGHTING The blessings for the candle lighting are: ברוך אתה ה', אלקינו מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצותיו וציונו להדליק נר: “Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has enjoined on us the commandment to kindle the light of: .של שבת - .”On Shabbat say: The Shabbat .של יום טוב - .”On Pesach: The Festival ERUV TAVSHILIN We are allowed to prepare food for Yom Tov for consumption on the same day, but we are forbidden to cook for the following day. When Yom Tov happens to fall on Friday, the Shabbat cooking may be done by using Eruv Tavshilin. Eruv Tavshilin is done by beginning the Shabbat cooking before Yom Tov, in our case, on: Wednesday, April 8 for the Shabbat of Pesach Hol Hamoed (April 11) Eruv Tavshilin takes the form of a piece of MATZAH and some cooked food (meat or egg the size of a Kazayit (30 grams) set aside prior to Yom Tov before candle lighting, to be eaten during Shabbat. Regular cooking (following the laws of Yom Tov regarding fire and electricity) may then be done on Friday for the Shabbat. Before Yom Tov, the set-aside foods are held while reciting the blessing and declaration of Eruv Tavshilin. The blessings to be said for the Eruv are as follows: ברוך אתה ה', אלקינו מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצותיו וציונו על מצות ערוב. “Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us regarding the Mitzva of Eruv”. בדין עירובא יהא שרא לנא לאפויי ולבשולי ולאטמוני ולתקוני ולאדלוקי שרגא ולמעבד כל צרכנא, מיומא טבא לשבתא ]לנא ולכל ישראל שבעיר הזאת[. “Through this Eruv may we be permitted to bake, cook, insulate, kindle a light, and prepare all that is needed on the festival for the succeeding Shabbat, (for ourselves and for all Jews living in this city”.)

WEEKDAY PRAYER SERVICES SHAHRIT 6:15 AM Early Minyan—Fifth Floor M—F 7:00 AM Regular Minyan—Main Floor M—F 8:00AM GEMARAH SHIUR With Rabbi Benchimol M—F 8:15 AM Late Minyan—Main Floor M/TH (& Rosh Hodesh) 8:30 AM Late Minyan—Main Floor T/W/F 8:30 AM Sunday Shahrit Minyan

MINHA FOLLOWED BY ARVIT (SUN—THR) 6:45 PM March 8—19 7:00 PM March 22—September 10 SAVE THE DATE

30th Annual Lag Ba'Omer Dinner Celebration