Min hameitzar karati ya we read in the Psalms, “In distress I called on the Lord” (Psalms 118:5). The Hebrew word meitzar shares the same root with the Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, lending an extra layer of meaning to our holiday celebrations. On Passover we not only recall the historical experience of the Exodus but re-commit to ridding our communities of any place in which narrowness and fear, oppression and injustice reside. We hope that we, like our ancestors, will eventually emerge from constraint into freedom, tightening into possibility, contraction into abundance and joy.
We prepare for Pesach yet again this year in the narrow straits – war with Iran threatening the State of Israel, antisemitism roiling in the United States and around the world, our country afire in so many different ways. V’hi sheamda – We find comfort in God’s promise to save us from those that arise in each generation to threaten our people. Ha lachma anya – We also remember our commitment to welcoming in those who are hungry and in need, ensuring that next year all will be free.
I hope that the following seder resources will be helpful in crafting an experience around your family table that both challenges and uplifts, holds the difficulty of this time yet also provides a sense of hope. For ideas on lifting up questions of moral obligation and action, look at my 2022 supplement “Freedom and Responsibility” or this year’s RA supplement “A Call to Freedom for All.” To emphasize support for Israel, check out my 2023 “In Honor of Israel’s 75th Birthday” or Mishael and Noam Zion’s “In Every Generation.” For general advice on making the seder interactive, engaging, and fun for kids, my 2020 “General Ideas for Enhancing the Seder” is a great place to start. And make sure to take a look at the RA Pesach guide which has gotten an update this year!
Just before the Second Cup on seder night, we lift our glasses and praise God for the many miracles of our people’s history and especially for taking us “from slavery to freedom, from despair to joy, from mourning to celebration, from darkness to light, from enslavement to redemption.” May we indeed emerge from the narrowness of this day into a better and brighter future.
Wishing you an Early Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Annie Tucker
Mechirat Chametz Sell your chametz here or be in touch with Rabbi Tucker to make an appointment to sell in person. The deadline for selling chametz is Wednesday, April 1st at 8:30 am.
Ma’ot Hittim Before Passover, it is customary to give Ma’ot Hittim, charity for the Passover needs of the poor. Donations will eventually be made to the New York Board of Rabbis’ Ma’ot Hittim Fund but may be channeled through TIC here. Please choose “Ma’ot Hittim” listed beneath “Rabbi Tucker’s Discretionary Fund” or mail checks payable to “Temple Israel Center” with “Rabbi Tucker’s Discretionary Fund – Ma’ot Hittim” in the memo line to Temple Israel Center, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains, NY 10605.
Pesach Guide After over a decade, the Rabbinical Assembly Pesah Guide has gotten a makeover for 5786. You’ll find a new introduction, updated directions on kashering, and revisions to the sections on which foods do and do not require special kosher for Passover certification.
Sefirat HaOmer Beginning on the second night of Pesach we engage in the ritual of Sefirat HaOmer, marking the days from Passover to Shavuot when our freedom became fully realized with the receiving of Torah. There’s a great Omer counter for kids (from Hadar) and through our community’s own Leffell School you can sign up to get daily reminders right on your phone!
Chametz Fest Take a break from cleaning and enjoy some final chametz at our Chametz Fest Dinner on Friday, March 27th. Please register by Sunday, March 22nd.
Cooking is permitted on Jewish holidays that fall on weekdays but only to prepare food for the day itself; on Shabbat all cooking is forbidden. In order to allow the preparation of food for a Shabbat that immediately follows a Yom Tov, the rabbis created the institution of eruv tavshilin. Information on this ritual can be found here.
Starting Seder Early: The seder commemorates the eating of the Paschal lamb with matza and maror and telling the story of the Exodus which occurred as the 15th of Nisan began, after dark, and this is traditionally the earliest time that a seder should begin. Still, the rabbis recognized that starting seder late in the evening could be difficult for young children, who are the primary audience for this ritual, and even for adults whose ability to fully enter into the joy and meaning of the night might wane given to fatigue.
A full treatment of these issues can be found in Rabbi Joshua Heller’s teshuvah, “Seder, and Other Yom Tov Observances, Before Dark”. He essentially offers three options, listed below in order of preference:
Please see the TIC emails for passwords.
Tuesday, 3/31 Bedikat Chametz
Bedikat Chametz (searching for chametz) should be done in one’s home this evening. Here are some instructions along with the necessary berakhot (blessings).
Wednesday, 4/1 Siyyum Bekhorim, Erev Pesach, 1st Seder
7:00 am: Siyyum Bekhorim – Join us for minyan in person or on Zoom followed by a siyyum (completion of learning ceremony) led by members of our congregation who have recently finished studying major sections of Jewish text. In the spirit of celebration which is shared by a whole community, first-borns who attend are released from the traditional pre-Pesach fast.
8:30 am: Latest time to make Rabbi Tucker your agent for selling chametz
10:28 am: Latest time to eat chametz
11:43 am: Latest time to burn chametz
5:50 pm: Evening services in person and livestream
7:02 pm: Candle lighting
Thursday, 4/2 Pesach Day I, 2nd Seder
9:15 am: Pesach services in the Milstein Sanctuary in person and livestream
5:50 pm: Mincha/Ma’ariv services in person and livestream
8:02 pm: Candle lighting (transferring from a pre-existing flame)
Friday, 4/3 Pesach Day II
9:15 am: Pesach services in the Milstein Sanctuary in person and livestream
5:50 pm: Mincha/(abbreviated) Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv services in person and livestream
7:04 pm: Candle lighting (transferring from a pre-existing flame)
Shabbat, 4/4 Chol HaMoed Pesach
9:15 am: Shabbat services in the Milstein Sanctuary in person and livestream
6:55 pm: Mincha/Ma’ariv services in person and livestream
8:05 pm: Havdalah
Sunday, 4/5 Chol HaMoed Pesach
9:00 am: Morning services in person and Zoom
8:00 pm: Evening services in person and Zoom
Monday, 4/6 Chol HaMoed Pesach
7:00 am: Morning services in person and Zoom
8:00 pm: Evening services in person and Zoom
Tuesday, 4/7 Chol HaMoed Pesach
7:00 am: Morning services in person and Zoom
5:55 pm: Mincha/Ma’ariv services in person and livestream
7:08 pm: Candle lighting
Wednesday, 4/8 Pesach VII
9:15 am: Pesach services in the Milstein Sanctuary in person and livestream
5:55 pm: Evening services in person and livestream
8:09 pm: Candle lighting and lighting of Yizkor candle (transferring from a pre-existing flame)
Thursday, 4/9 Pesach VIII (Yizkor)
9:15 am: Pesach services in the Milstein Sanctuary in person and livestream
7:00 pm: Mincha/Ma’ariv services in person and livestream
8:10 pm: Havdalah
8:30 pm: Those who sold their chametz through TIC may now enjoy it!
