Chabad of Reston-Herndon
2015 Passover Guide
 

Dear Friends,

Passover is a busy holiday, which often leaves one feeling overwhelmed and confused.

What do I do when? Did I do it right?

This year spend your Passover feeling liberated, with our Passover Guide.

We will take you day by day through the laws, traditions, and customs of Passover. So sit back, lean to your left, feel like royalty, and enjoy the holiday!

Chag Kasher v'Sameach! Have a wonderful, happy, and liberating Pesach!

Rabbi Leibel Fajnland
 

Before Friday, April 3


 Sale of Chametz

Understanding why:

Since it is prohibited to possess chametz on Passover, we need to sell to a non-Jew all chametz that will not be eaten or burned before Passover, and all chametz utensils which will not be koshered for Passover by then. These are stored away in closets or rooms while preparing for Passover. Then we lock or tape shut the closets or rooms, and they are leased to a non-Jew at the time of sale.

Since there are legal details in this sale, only a competent Rabbi should be entrusted with its execution. The Rabbi acts as our agent both to sell the chametz to the non-Jew on the morning before Passover starts, and also to buy it back the evening after Passover ends.

Please contact the shul office at 703-476-1829 or, even better, Sell Your Chametz On-Line.

 

 

Thursday, April 2 - Night Before Passover

Search For Chametz


After nightfall (after 8:17 pm) make a formal search of your home for chametz.

A) Recite the blessing:

Boruch Ahtoh Ado-nai Ehlo-heinu melech haolam asher kidishonu bihmitzvosov vihtzivonu al beor chametz.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to remove the leaven.

B) With a lit candle, feather, bag, and wooden spoon, search for chametz in every room. When the search is finished, recite the following:

All leaven or anything leavened which is in my possession, which I have neither seen or removed, and about which I am unaware, shall be considered naught and owner-less as the dust of the earth.

C) Now take the chametz which you have found, and put it in a secure place. You will burn it tomorrow morning.

Understanding why:

A home must be established before Passover as Kosher for Passover. This is done by making an official search for chametz before Passover.

 

Friday, April 3 - Eve of 1st Day of Passover

Fast of the First Born Siyum:

Shacharis Services and Siyyum @ Chabad of Fairfax — 7:00 am

Stop Eating Chametz:

Chametz can only be eaten up to 11:04 am on the morning before Passover.

 

Burn the Chametz:

 

The chametz you found last night, and all other chametz which you did not sell must now be destroyed. Chametz must be burned before 12:08 pm.

After the chametz is thrown into the fire, recite the following:

All leaven or anything leavened which is in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have removed it or not shall be completely considered naught and owner-less as the dust of the earth.

Understanding why:

Once the time where chametz is forbidden has passed, the chametz is not yours, and may not even be rendered owner-less or sold. The chametz must be destroyed.

Candle Lighting

The Holiday Candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset:

Herndon: 7:17 pm

A) Mothers should help their daughters light first.

B) Light your candles, cover your face with your hands, and recite the following blessings:

(1) Boruch ato Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech haolam asher kidishonu bihmitzvosov vitzivonu lihadlik ner shel Shabbat Veshel yom tov.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the holiday candle.

(2) Boruch ato Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech haolam shehecheyohnu vikiyemonu vehigionu lezman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

C) Uncover your face, and enjoy the light of the candles.

Understanding why:

The Shabbat and Holiday candles are lit to bring peace into the home. It assures a well lit Shabbat meal and a beautiful family experience.

Make the 1st Seder:

Click Herefor a step-by-step guide on how to make a Passover Seder.  This link will take you to a wonderful web-page where you and your children can have a fun educational experience for the family.

Nobody should go without a seder. If you have none to attend, please come to us ours starts at 7:30 pm.More information and on-line reservation.

 

Shabbat, April 4

1st Day of Passover & Eve of 2nd Day of Passover

Morning Holiday Services: 9:30am

Candle Lighting

This evening we must light the candles after nightfall, making sure that they are the candles of the second day of Passover:

Herndon: after 8:07 PM from a pre-existing flame

 

A) Mothers should help their daughters light first.

B) Light your candles, cover your face with your hands, and recite the following blessings:

(1) Boruch ato Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech haolam asher kidishonu bihmitzvosov vitzivonu lihadlik ner shel yom tov.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the holiday candle.

(2) Boruch ato Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech haolam shehecheyohnu vikiyemonu vehigionu lezman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

C) Uncover your face, and enjoy the light of the candles.

Understanding why:

The Shabbat and Holiday candles are lit to bring peace into the home. It assures a well lit Shabbat meal and a beautiful family experience.

Make the 2nd Seder:

Click Here for a step-by-step guide on how to make a Passover Seder.

This link will take you to a wonderful web-page where you and your children can have a fun educational experience for the family.

 

Sunday, April 5th-

 2nd Day of Passover and beginning of Chol Hamoed "Intermediate Days" of Passover

End of 'First Days of Passover'

The first two days of Passover are complete holidays in which 'work' is prohibited. The holidays ends at: 8:17 PM

At the end of the first two days of the holiday the Havdalah service is made.

For a guide on how to make Havdalah Click Here

Chol Hamoed

After Havdalah services the Chol Hamoed "Intermediate days" begin.

For more information about Chol Hamoed Click Here

 

 

Thursday, April 9th -
Eve of 7th day of Passover

Candle Lighting

The Holiday candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset:

Light Candles before 7:23 pm

A) Mothers should help their daughters light first.

B) Light your candles, cover your face with your hands, and recite the following

 

blessing:

(1) Boruch ato Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech haolam asher kidishonu bihmitzvosov vitzivonu lihadlik ner shel yom tov.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the holiday candle.

C) Uncover your face, and enjoy the light of the candles.


 Understanding why:

The Shabbat and Holiday candles are lit to bring peace into the home. It assures a well lit Shabbat meal and a beautiful family experience.

 

Friday, April 10th

7th Day of Passover & Eve of 8th Day of Passover

Morning Services: 9:30 am

Candle Lighting

 

This evening we must light the candles before nightfall, making sure that they are the candles of the second day of Passover:

Herndon: after 7:24 PM from a pre-existing flame


 B) Light your candles, cover your face with your hands, and recite the following blessing:

(1) Boruch ato Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech haolam asher kidishonu bihmitzvosov vitzivonu lihadlik ner shel Shabbat Veshel yom tov.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the holiday candle.

C) Uncover your face, and enjoy the light of the candles.

Understanding why:

The Shabbat and Holiday candles are lit to bring peace into the home. It assures a well lit Shabbat meal and a beautiful family experience.

A) Mothers should help their daughters light first.

 

Shabbat, April 11th - 8th (Last Day) of Passover

Morning Services: 9:30am

Yizkor Services approx 11:30 am

On the last day of Passover, Yizkor Services are made for our beloved ones who have passed away. One should come to shul and fulfill the commandment of Honor

 

your father and mother, through remembering them. Additionally, in the Yizkor Service a gift to charity is made in their memory.

Seudah Moshiach and Evening Services 6:45 pm

Passover Ends 8:23 pm

Please wait an hour to give the rabbi enough time to buy back your chametz before eating it.

Havdalah Services

At the end of the of the Passover holiday the Havdalah service is made.

No candle or spices are used.