AADDAASS PPEESSAACCHH PPAAMMPPHHLLEETT

" ְְו ִִה ַַּּג ְְד ָָּּת ְְל ִִב ְְנ ָָך..." (שמות י״ג:ח).

M A R C H 2 0 2 1 נ י ס ן ת ש פ ״ א

"And you will tell your children" (Shemot 13:8).

PESACH EREV PESACH CALENDAR ON Check out the important Learn about the number of times and dates over this major changes that are made coming Pesach. to the regular routine. pg.3-4 Erev Pesach on Shabbat

pg.5-6 Sefirat HaOmer Chart

A MESSAGE pg.9 FROM THE RABBI Important Dates and Times

What does it feel like to be enveloped in a miracle? This is precisely what we meditate upon in the final moments of Pesach. We envision ourselves standing within the soaring walls of the Red Sea, moments before our final salvation.

Ironically, the scene wasn't entirely pretty. King David describes how the nation "rebelled at the Red Sea" (Psalm 106:7). What was their beef? The Midrash describes how they were upset about their sandals. The sea may have split, but the seabed was muddy and their footwear became soiled. They saw the filth on their sandals and had flashbacks to the mortar of the bricks of Egypt. As they stood surrounded by miracles on all sides, they were stuck in the mud.

Lasting change is seldom inspired externally. Rather, inner transformation requires an internal thirst and determination. We can be exposed to the greatest miracles and revelations, but if our eyes are cast down all we will see is mud.

In an instant, our world has changed and we have been delivered a wake-up call. Many of us have experienced a year plagued by isolation and loss, others have been granted space to reflect and reevaluate life. The final act of the Exodus story provides us with the directive. No matter what life throws our way, it is up to us to raise our eyes and heed the call. Let us all rise to this unprecedented moment.

Chag Kasher VeSameach,

Rabbi Daniel Green 2 EREV PESACH ON SHABBAT SHABBAT HAGADOL DERASHA ("IMPORTANT SHABBAT LECTURE" The Shabbat HaGadol Derasha usually given on the Shabbat before Pesach covering pertinent laws of Pesach is given two Shabbatot before Pesach when Erev Pesach falls out on Shabbat. This is to give the audience of the Derasha time to put into action the concepts that were taught. This year, this falls out on March 20th, at 5:30pm at the Adas.

TAANIT BACHOROT Generally, on Erev Pesach, it is customary for Jewish firstborn males to fast. Since we do not fast on Shabbat or on Friday (so that we can focus on Pesach preparations), this fast day is pushed back to Thursday.

This year, this fast day commences at 5:43 am and concludes at 7:59 pm on Thursday, March 25, 2021. As in other years, this fast can be supplanted by a celebration marking the completion of a tractate of Talmud, called a Siyum. The Siyum at the Adas will take place at approximately 7:45am (following morning services) which will allow firstborn participants to eat. A Breakfast-to-Go will be provided. While it is preferable to attend the Siyum in person, during Covid one may participate over the phone or by Zoom. As well, if someone even has a slight headache, one should not fast.

BEDIKAT CHAMETZ (SEARCHING FOR CHAMETZ) We search for Chametz in our homes on Thursday night, March 25, after 7:59 pm. A Beracha is recited on the Bedikah, as well as the “Kol Chamira” declaration following the search. If you are setting aside Chametz to be consumed on Shabbat, place it in a tightly sealed bag segregated in a specially designated place.

BIUR CHAMETZ (BURNING THE CHAMETZ) Since we are not permitted to burn the Chametz on the morning before Pesach since it falls on Shabbat, the Chametz is burned instead on Friday, March 26. Although the burning is performed a day earlier, it still must be completed prior to 12:22 pm in order to avoid confusion in future years. After burning the Chametz, the Kol Chamira is not recited. (Instead, the Kol Chamira is pushed off and said on Shabbat, March 27, before 12:22 pm).

MECHIRAT CHAMETZ (SELLING THE CHAMETZ) All community Chametz will be sold on Friday, March 26, before noon. Please make sure to authorize the selling of your Chametz by 11:00am on Friday at www.adasisrael.ca. Sold items should be stored away in their designated area. Kitchenware should preferably be Kashered on Friday, by 12:22 pm as well, but can be Kashered until candle lighting on Friday (before 7:19 pm).

SEDER PREPERATIONS Seder preparations should be completed prior to Shabbat on Friday (before 7:19 pm) and not on Shabbat itself. This includes: setting the table, roasting the egg and shankbone, cleaning and checking lettuce leaves, chopping nuts for Charoset, grating horseradish and preparing salt water. When necessary, Seder preparations can be done also after Shabbat at 8:23 pm. (Prior to preparing, one recites, "Baruch Hamavdil Ben Kodesh LeKodesh" - that G-d has made distinctions between different holy moments.)

3 AND CHAMETZ MANAGEMENT On Shabbat we are obligated to make Hamotzi on two loaves of bread both on Friday nights and Shabbat morning. This year, with Erev Pesach falling on Shabbat, we are presented with several challenges:

Our houses have already been cleaned for Pesach and introducing bread at meals compromises that status. Although Matzah can generally substitute for bread, it is Halachically forbidden to eat Matzah on the day before Pesach.

There are two viable options:

Option A: Before Shabbat, set aside just the amount of bread that you and your family will need for Hamotzi. Place it in a tightly sealed bag in a designated place. Use only disposable tableware as a precaution and with the exception of the bread from Hamotzi, serve only food that is Kosher for Pesach. Make Hamotzi and consume the bread before any other food is brought to the table. After Hamotzi, take the leftover bread and all the crumbs and clear them off the table. The bread and uneaten crumbs should be disposed of by flushing them down the toilet or placed in a garbage bag, declared ownerless and removed from one's property.

Option B: Use only egg Matzah on Erev Pesach for your meals. Although egg Matzah is not considered suitable for Ashkenazim on Pesach (except for those with health conditions), it is not considered Chametz and can be placed on Pesach utensils. There is also no prohibition of eating egg Matzah on Erev Pesach, prior to 11:18 pm, the time when you may no longer eat Chametz. (This option was sanctioned by Rav Moshe Feinstein.)

One Additional Challenge: Chametz cannot be eaten on Erev Pesach (Friday, March 26th) after 11:18am. After that time, both bread and (according to most opinions) Egg Matzah are not an option.

To accommodate a proper Shabbat day meal prior to 11:18 am, the Adas Israel will be conducting Shabbat services at 7:45 am. This will allow everyone to return home and eat their meal prior to 11:18 am (with either bread or Egg Matzah).

For those who are careful to eat bread at (the third Shabbat meal), two meals with bread should be eaten on Shabbat day prior to 11:18am. How is this done? Make Hamotzi, eat a slice of bread and recite Birkat HaMazon. Once completed, leave the room, occupy yourself with another activity, and take a short break of at least 15 minutes . After 15 minutes, wash again , make Hamotzi and continue eating more food, followed by a second Birkat Hamazon.

FINAL NULLIFICATION OF CHAMETZ On the morning of Shabbat, March 26, no Chametz can be eaten after 11:18 am. All Chametz must be removed by 12:22 pm. Crumbs should be disposed by flushing them down the toilet. After disposing of all Chametz, one should recite Kol Chamiram (even if said accidentally on the Friday). One may continue to eat Kosher for Pesach food after that times.

SEDER CHANGES

Candle Lighting: On Yom Tov one can transfer fire but not kindle a new flame. Since Shabbat precedes Yom Tov, a 25 hour Yahrzeit candle should be lit on Friday (prior to 7:19 pm) and used to light the Yom Tov candles on Saturday night.

Havdalah: The at our first Seder this year includes . As printed in the Haggadah, one adds “Borei Me'orei Ha'esh” over the Yom Tov candles, but should not tilt the candles to touch each other. 4 5

PESACH SEDER CHECKLIST

HAGGADOT PILLOWS (TO LEAN TO THE LEFT)

KA'ARAH (SEDER PLATE) MATZAH COVER

KIDDUSH CUPS CANDLES AFIKOMAN BAG

GRAPE JUICE & WINE KARPAS (CELERAY/PARSLEY/POTATOES) ZEROAH (SHANK BONE)

BEITZAH (EGG) SALT WATER MAROR (GROUND HORSERADISH/ROMAINE LETTUCE) CHAROSET MIXTURE

7 HOW MUCH WINE AND MATZAH? Four Cups The Rabbis instituted that four cups of wine ato be consumed over the Pesach Seder in order to signify freedom and publicize the miracles of the Jewish exodus from Egypt. One should use a cup that can hold a Revi'it of wine. This Biblical measurement is a minimum of 3 ounces. One should ideally drink the entire cup without interruption. The cup of wine should also be consumed when leaning to the left. It is best to drink red wine, but grape juice is an acceptable substitute for those who do not enjoy wine, or have other concerns. with wine.

Both men and women are required to drink the four cups of wine. Even though women are generally not obligated in Mitzvot Asei Shehazman Grama (proactive Torah commands tied to a specific time) the Talmud (Pesachim 108a) explain that the women actively participated in the miracles. In fact, in the merit of the righteous women, of that generation, we were redeemed (Sotah 11b) .

Children should drink four cups of grape juice. Ashkenazim say a Bracha on each cup of wine, while Sephardim only make a blessing on the first and third cup.

Matzah Unlike the four cups, eating Matzah is a biblical commandment, even today. Matzah should also be CHAMETZ AFTER consumed while leaning to the left. Men and women are required to eat Matzah. PESACH After Passover we cannot eat any Chametz that we know Motzi-Matzah was owned by a Jew during Passover as a penalty for not Many feel It is preferable to consume two Kezeitim. If this getting rid of it. This is a Rabbinical decree, and, therefore, will be difficult, one can eat one Keza'it. The Biblical if one is unsure of the status of Chametz after Passover, it measurement of a Keza'it is a bit more than a quarter of is permitted without extensive research. Because of this, a hand-made Matzah or a third of a Machine made all stores, groceries, supermarkets, convenience stores, Matzah. and the like are automatically permitted immediately after the holiday when it is known they are owned by a non- Korech Jew. It is sufficient to eat one Keza'it of Matzah.

Tzafun/Afikoman Similar to Motzi-Matzah,many feel it is preferable to consume two Kezeitim. If this will be difficult, one can eat one Keza'it.

8 IMPORTANT DATES

March-April

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Shabbat

25 26 Erev Pesach 27 SHABBAT HAGADOL Taanit Bachor: Biur Chametz: Final (Bitul) Chametz: starts 5:47am before 12:22pm before 11:18am Bedikat Chametz: Candle lighting: 1st Seder / after 7:79pm 7:19pm Candle lighting: After 8:01pm

Omer 1 28 Omer 2 29 Omer 3 30 Omer 4 31 Omer 5 1 Omer 6 2 Omer 7 3 PESACH DAY 1 PESACH DAY 2 PESACH DAY 7

2nd Seder/ Candle lighting: Candle lighting: Candle lighting: 7:29pm 8:32pm 8:02pm Chol HaMoed 1 Chol HaMoed 2 Chol HaMoed 3 Chol HaMoed 4

Omer 8 4 PESACH DAY 8

Yizkor: 9:45am

IMPORTANT TIMES Thursday, March 25: Fast of Firstborn begins at 5:47am, Serach for Chametz after 7:59pm Friday, March 26: Biur (Remove) Chametz before 12:22pm, Candle lighting before 7:19pm

Saturday, March 27: Shacharit at 7:45am, Finish eating Chametz before 11:18am, Biur (Remove) Chametz before 12:22pm, Shabbat HaGadol Derasha at 5:30pm, Candle lighting after 8:23pm, Halachic Midnight 1:24am Sunday, March 28: Candle lighting after 8:02

Friday, April 2: Candle lighting before 7:29pm

Saturday, April 3: Candle lighting after 8:32pm Sunday, April 4: Yizkor serve at 9:45am 9 adasisrael.ca