Getting Rid of Chametz
We prepare for Pesach by eliminating chametz from our homes, cars, offices, and anywhere we might spend time over the holiday. We render our surroundings completely chametz-free, sealing off and selling any items that remain in our dwellings.
You may sell your chametz online here until Wednesday, April 1 at 8am.
Bedikat hametz (Searching for chametz) – Tuesday, March 31, after Maariv or 8:00pm
Biur hametz – burnt or disposed of by 11:45am on Wednesday, April 1.
Last time to eat chametz is 10:41am Wednesday, April 1. Chametz reverts possession at 8:30pm on the 23rd of Nisan, corresponding to Thursday evening April 9th, 2025.
Fast of the Firstborn and Siyyum – Wednesday morning, April 1.
- Shacharit services – Chapel & on Zoom, 6:45am.
- Siyyum – Chapel & on Zoom, 7:30am.
Biyur chametz at TI kitchen loading dock: 8:25am. The biyur hametz must be completed by 11:45am.
Leyl Pesach – Wednesday, April 1st
- Candle Lighting – 6:52pm
Light Festival candles at home with two blessings (l’hadlik ner shel yom tov and shehechiyanu) at 6:52pm.
It is customary light a long-burning yahrzeit candle prior to Festival Candles (no later than 6:52pm) in order to transfer fire for lighting candles on the second night of Pesach (7:54pm) and Shabbat (6:54) and for cooking during the holiday. In addition, to allow one to cook on Friday in preparation for Shabbat, please follow the directions below for the preparation of an Eruv Tavshilin.*
Candle Lighting: 6:52pm. Transfer fire from the long-burning candle by inserting a match or other stick into the flame. Do not extinguish the match but let it self-extinguish in a non-flammable tray.
Recite 2 brachot- lehadlik ner shel yom tov, and shehechiyanu
Pesach Day 1 – Thursday, April 2
- Festival Shacharit services, Sanctuary – 9:30am. PLEASE NOTE THE LATER START TIME
Tal (Prayer for Dew): During Musaf services, the leader will don a kittel and chant Tal. We begin to include the prayer for dew in our daily tefillot, leaving aside our prayers for winter rain.
- Mincha – Chapel & on Zoom, 1:20pm
Second Night of Pesach – Thursday, April 2
- Light festival candles – 7:54pm
(From an existing flame) at home with two blessings (ner shel yom tov and Shehecheyanu).
Temple Israel is NOT holding ma’ariv services this evening. If you are looking for a minyan, please let Rabbi Fineberg know so he can help you find one.
Be sure to include sefirat ha-omer, counting the omer, which appears in the Haggadah. The counting of the omer should be done after dark, at least 20 minutes following sunset.
Pesach Day 2 – Friday, April 3
Festival Shacharit services, Sanctuary – 9:30am. PLEASE NOTE THE LATER START TIME
Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach (Intermediate Days of the Festival) Friday, April 3 – Saturday, April 4
- Mincha/Maariv/Kabbalat: 6:15pm, Chapel
- Shabbat Chol HaMoed Morning Services, 9:00am
- Mincha: 6:45pm
- Maariv and Havdalah: 7:56pm
Chol HaMoed Pesach(Intermediate Days of the Festival)
Sunday, April 5 – Tuesday, April 7
- Weekday Shacharit: 6:45am
- Weekday Mincha/Maariv: 7:15pm
7th and 8th Days of Pesach: Tuesday Night, April 8
Prepare Shabbat Candles and a long-burning candle for transferring fire and cooking on Yom Tov.
- Candle Lighting: 6:58pm, recite 1 bracha: lehadlik ner shel yom tov
- Maariv: 7:15pm
- Say kiddush with insertions for Pesach
- Wednesday Morning Services: 9:00am
- Wednesday Mincha/Maariv: 7:00pm
8th Day of Pesach: Wednesday, April 8-Thursday, April 9
- Candle lighting – 8:01pm
Light Yom Tov candles by transferring fire from the long-burning candle by inserting a match or other stick into the flame. Do not extinguish the match, but let it self-extinguish in a non-flammable tray.
Recite 1 bracha- lehadlik ner shel yom tov
Thursday 4/9
- Early Shacharit/Yizkor: 6:30am
- Shacharit: 9:00am
- Yizkor: approximately 11am
- Mincha/Maariv: 7:00pm
- Havdalah: 8:02pm
Rabbi Fineberg will purchase back the hametz he sold on your behalf by 8:45pm, after which you may resume eating the hametz in your homes.
*Eruv Tavshilin How-To
To allow cooking for Shabbat on the preceding Yom Tov, on Wednesday before Pesach begins we perform the ritual known as Eruv Tavshilin, literally combining our cooking for Pesach and Shabbat. Please follow this procedure:
1. Before Yom Tov begins, take two prepared foods, customarily a baked food (like matzah), and a cooked food (like a hard boiled egg, or a piece of cooked meat or vegetables).
2. Recite the following blessing:
a. ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על מצות עירוב
b. Baruch atah Adonai, eloheinu melekh ha’olam, asher kiddeshanu bemitzvotav vitzivvanu al mitzvat eiruv.
3. Then, in a language you understand, recite the following declaration, that cooking for shabbat was begun before – and will be completed on – Yom Tov:
a. בערוב הזה יהי מותר לנו לאפות ולבשל ולהטמין ולהדליק נר, ולעשות כל–צרכינו מיום טוב לשבת, לנו ולכל ישראל הדרים בעיר הזאת
b. By means of this combining (eruv), we are permitted to bake, cook, warm, kindle lights, and make all the necessary preparations for shabbat during the festival, we and all who live in this city/locale.
4. Set aside the two foods for eating on Shabbat during the day.
Fulfill a Passover Mitzvah with Yad Chessed
“Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat”
As Passover approaches, we all have the opportunity to fulfill the beautiful mitzvah of Maot Chittim (“wheat money”) by making a donation to Yad Chessed to ensure that every member of our community can afford food and celebrate this cherished holiday with dignity.
Maot Chittim is an ancient tradition in which community members contribute funds so that everyone can obtain the necessary provisions for Passover. Yad Chessed—an organization dedicated to assisting Jewish individuals and families facing financial hardship and food insecurity—upholds this tradition by helping households purchase food for the holiday.
Your generous donation will help ensure that no one is left behind during this special time of year. And if you know someone in our community who is struggling financially, please encourage them to reach out to Yad Chessed for confidential assistance. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for those who need it most.
Chametz Party for Families - Sunday, 3/29 at 3pm
Join young families to prepare for Passover with a Chametz party, followed by Bedikat Chametz, the search for chametz.