Beth Immanuel Guide to Passover 2016

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A Guide to Passover at Beth Immanuel 2016 -5776

Thursday April 21: Bedikat Chametz—Casting out the Leaven

On this day we clean out the leaven and leavened things (chametz) and any items which contain ingredients made from wheat, barley, spelt, rye, and oats. A person should have all the chametz removed from his home this evening and conduct the ritual search for chametz after dark, with the candle, feather, wooden spoon, and linen. Place the chametz bag outside your home and pronounce the declaration:

Any leaven or chametz in my possession that I have not noticed, removed, or known about is to be nullified, becoming ownerless property, like the dust of the earth.

After removing the chametz, we take time to remember the Master’s last meal with his disciples and his arrest in Gethsemane. We also confess our sins to prepare for the festival:

Luke 22:1-54; John 13–18:13
1 Corinthians 11:18-34
Psalm 21

Friday April 22: Erev Pesach—Day Before Passover

On Erev Pesach, we prepare for the Seder and the seven days of Passover. In the morning, a person should burn his chametz and declare:

Any leaven or chametz in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have noticed it or not, and whether I have removed it or not, is to be nullified, becoming ownerless property, like the dust of the earth.

At the time of morning prayers, we remember the hours of the crucifixion by reading and praying over the passion narratives.

Mark 15; John 18:13–19:42
Psalm 22

Firstborn males fast on this day until the Seder. It is a pious thing for all disciples of Yeshua to fast on the anniversary of his crucifixion and to break their fast at the seder meal. If possible, a person immerses in a mikvah prior to sunset to spiritually prepare for the holy day.

In the evening, after sunset, we celebrate the redemption at the Passover Seder meal. During the course of the seder, we take matzah and the four cups in remembrance of our Master, according to his commandment.

Saturday April 23: Pesach 1—First day of Passover (Resurrection Eve)

The first day of Passover is a Yom Tov (Holiday Sabbath). On the first day of Passover, we recite the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) and read from the Torah. We also say the Prayer for Dew during Mussaf, after which we discontinue saying “who makes the wind to blow and the rain to fall” in the first blessing of the Amidah.

Hallel: Psalms 113–118
Torah Reading: Exodus 12:21-51
Maftir: Numbers 28:16-25
Haftarah: Joshua 3:5–7; 5:2–6:1; 6:27

After the evening prayers (Ma’ariv), we count the first day of the Omer along with the recitation of Psalm 67, and we remember the resurrection of our Master by reading Matthew 28:1–4. Those who keep the second Seder, according to the Diaspora custom, do so in remembrance of the Master’s resurrection, according to his commandment.

Count Omer Day 1 with Psalm 67
Matthew 28:1-4

Sunday April 24: Pesach 2—Second day of Passover (Resurrection)

On the day after Shabbat during the week of Passover, we rise early and recite the Full Hallel and remember the appearance of the risen Messiah to his disciples with special readings from the Gospels. In the Diaspora, the second day of Passover is also a Yom Tov.

Hallel: Psalms 113–118
Torah Reading: Leviticus 22:24-23:19
Maftir: Numbers 28:16-25
Haftarah: 2 Kings 23:1–9; 21–25
Gospels: Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20.
Count Omer Day 2 with Psalm 67 after dark
Havdallah (Diaspora)

Monday April 25: Pesach 3—Third day of Passover

On the third day of Passover, we recite the Short Hallel (Psalms 113-118 omitting some sections) and read from the Torah.

Short Hallel:
Psalm 113-114
Psalm 115:12-18
Psalm 116:12-19
Psalm 117-118
Torah Reading: Exodus 13:1-16
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Count Omer Day 3 with Psalm 67 after dark

Tuesday April 26: Pesach 4—Fourth day of Passover

On the fourth day of Passover, we recite the Short Hallel and read from the Torah.
Short Hallel

Torah Reading: Exodus 22:24-23:19
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Count Omer Day 4 with Psalm 67 after dark

Wednesday April 27: Pesach 5—Fifth day of Passover

On the fifth day of Passover we recite the Short Hallel and read from the Torah.

Short Hallel
Torah Reading: Exodus 33:12–34:26
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Count Omer Day 5 with Psalm 67 after dark

Thursday April 28: Pesach 6—Sixth day of Passover

Short Hallel
Torah Reading: Numbers 9:1–14
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25

We light candles before sunset and, after dark, we welcome the seventh day of Passover with a festive meal including a festival kiddush over wine and matzah.

Count Omer Day 6 with Psalm 67 after dark

Friday April 29: Pesach 7—Seventh day of Passover (Erev Shabbat)

The seventh day of Passover is a Yom Tov. On the first day of Passover, we recite the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) and read from the Torah, commemorating the anniversary of the crossing of the Red Sea.

Short Hallel
Torah Reading: Exodus 13:17–15:26
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1–51
Erev Shabbat meal with unleavened bread
Count Omer Day 7 with Psalm 67 after dark

After dark, those who keep the eighth day in accordance with Diaspora custom welcome the last day of Passover with another festive kiddush in conjunction with the Erev Shabbat Kiddush meal including wine and matzah. The festival technically concludes for those who do not observe the eighth day, but it is a pious custom not to eat chametz until the conclusion of the eighth day, even if one does not keep the eighth day.

Saturday April 30: Pesach 8—Eighth day of Passover

The Eighth day of Passover coincides with the Shabbat this year. On the eighth day of Passover, we recite the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) and read from the Torah. The haftarah brings a special prophecy about the Messiah.

Short Hallel
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Haftarah: Isaiah 10:32–12:6

In the afternoon of the eighth day, in keeping with Beth Immanuel tradition, we celebrate a special third meal called the Meal of Messiah with fish, matzah, and wine. On this day, a person should strive to attain new revelation about the Messiah and his advent. The festival concludes after sunset. After ma’ariv prayers, count the omer.