A Guide to Passover at Beth Immanuel 2018

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Use this handy Passover Guide to navigate your way through the days of Pesach, keeping the daily prayers and scriptures in view and remembering the year of Yeshua's suffering and resurrection.

Thursday March 29: Last Supper and 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

Friday March 30: Erev Pesach—Day Before Passover

On Erev Pesach, we prepare for the Seder and the seven days of Passover.

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.

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

Mark 15; John 18:13–19:42
Psalm 22

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 March 31: 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

In the afternoon, at the Third Meal of the Sabbath, we remember the resurrection story as the hour draws near with a light meal including songs and teaching.

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.

Resurrection Meal at Third Meal
Count Omer Day 1 with Psalm 67
Matthew 28:1-4

Sunday April 1: Pesach 2—Second day of Passover (Resurrection) [Omer 1]

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 2: Pesach 3—Third day of Passover [Omer 2]

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 3: Pesach 4—Fourth day of Passover [Omer 3]

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 4: Pesach 5—Fifth day of Passover [Omer 4]

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 5: Pesach 6—Sixth day of Passover [Omer 5]

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

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 6: Pesach 7—Seventh day of Passover (Erev Shabbat) [Omer 6]

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.

Count Omer Day 7 with Psalm 67 after dark

Saturday April 7: Pesach 8—Eighth day of Passover [Omer 7]

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.

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.