SCHEDULE OF PASSOVER SERVICES
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PASSOVER INFORMATION

Rabbinical Assembly Pesach Guide:   pesah-guide-5785.pdf

RA Haggadah Supplement:  Rabbinical Assembly Haggadah Supplement 5785/2025

Learn about Passover and other Resources here: Passover - The Digital Home for Conservative Judaism

PJ Library's Passover with Kids Hub: Passover for Kids | PJ Library

Searching for Hametz:  b-dikat-hameitz.pdf

A note on Passover that begins on a Saturday night:

When Passover starts on a Saturday night, “Erev Pesach” is stretched over three days. 

• The fast/feast of the firstborn, which would normally be on Passover eve, is pushed two days earlier, so that we do not have to fast on Shabbat or Friday. So, the traditional Siyyum for the firstborn will be held on Thursday morning.
• Then, Thursday night is when we search for Hametz by candlelight. 
• Kitchens should be completely switched over to kosher for Passover and we get rid of almost all our hametz by burning or selling it by the sixth hour of the day on Friday. 
   

But what about challah on Shabbat? For Shabbat meals, there are two solutions: 

1. Eat hametz, but very carefully. The hametz sale document, and the way that we dispose of hametz, has a loophole for any hametz that we are planning to eat on the rest of Friday evening or Shabbat morning. We can therefore hold back enough challah for Shabbat dinner and Shabbat lunch (this is a great time for paper plates or outdoor dining). We finish eating the hametz by the fifth hour, and dispose of any leftovers by the sixth. Leftovers can be discarded--rendered inedible. At that time, we recite the “Kol Chamira” formula (normally recited when burning the hametz) that cancels any remaining hametz.

2. “Egg Matzah” is not technically considered Matzah, but is also not hametz, as it is similar to bread. So, it’s possible to use two sheets of it in the place of challah, and thus be totally kosher-for-Passover.

Does this mean we can't start the Seder until after sundown too? Preferably, but not necessarily...

The following approaches could be considered depending on circumstances, and are listed in order of preference:

1. The stringent approach:

If it is within the capacity of all attending to participate fully in a Seder beginning after dark, then this would be the preferred option. Even in such a case, Ma’ariv could be recited earlier so that those attending may be home and ready to start/prepare for the Seder at the appropriate time.

However, in such a situation, one should not eat a significant meal in the hours leading up to Seder, so that one is able to have an appetite for matzah.

One may run a “model Seder” for very small children who will not be able to stay up for the Seder, though this goes against the spirit of the Seder.

2. The “classic” approach:

Begin Seder at any time after plag haminha*, timing its performance so that some portion of the telling, and the consumption of matzah and maror, fall after dark.

3. Seder out of order:

Discussion and favorite songs, including Hallel, could be done before nightfall, skipping the most essential elements..

After nightfall, the party would recite a “minimum required Seder” consisting of Kiddush, washing, karpas, and Maggid highlights including the four questions, avadim hayinu, the analysis of arami oved avi, the 2nd cup, and Rabban Gamliel’s presentation of the meaning of the ritual foods. Of course, the actual consumption of matzah and maror would take place after dark as well.

4. The most lenient approach:

Begin Seder at any time after plag haminha*, working under the assumption that tosefet Yom Tov means that acceptance of the Yom Tov means that it is now the appropriate time for performance of all night-time rituals, including matzah and maror.

*Plag haminha - the halfway point between the earliest time to say mincha, the afternoon service, and the latest time for saying minha.