The Spirit of God: Passover

Showing posts with label Passover. Show all posts

Monday, April 11, 2011

PASSOVER PREPARATIONS (4): "The Passover Calendar - 2011" -Chabad

Preparing for Passover
II

Chabad Calendar

The Passover Calendar - 2011
An overview of the days of Passover in 2011

Sunday April 17—13 Nissan
Did you remember to sell your chametz? Your local Chabad rabbi can help, or complete an online “Authorization for the Sale of Chametz” form byclicking here.
Search for the chametz after dark (click here for the exact time). Recite the blessing prior to the search, and the nullification of the chametz (Kol Chamira)following the search. Click here for more information on the search and removal of chametz.
Monday April 18—14 Nissan
The Day Before Passover
Fast of the Firstborn. For a male firstborn to be exempt from fasting, he must participate in a meal marking the fulfillment of a mitzvah; such a meal is generally held in a synagogue after morning prayers on this day.
Have you sold your chametz? Final call! Your local Chabad rabbi can help, or complete an online “Authorization for the Sale of Chametz” form byclicking here.
Stop eating chametz before the end of the fourthseasonal hour (click here for the exact time).
Burn your remaining (unsold) chametz before the fifth seasonal hour (click here for the exact time).
It is customary to recite the “Order of the Passover Offering” after the afternoon Minchah prayer.
Light the Passover candles, reciting blessings 2 & 4.Click here for the blessings, and here for local candle-lighting times. Click here for a summary of the laws ofYom Tov.
Complete Hallel is recited during Maariv (evening) services.
First Seder: The Seder contains the observance of many Biblical and Rabbinic mitzvot, including: eatingmatzah, eating maror (bitter herbs), drinking four cups of wine, relating the story of the Exodus to our children, reclining as a symbol of freedom, etc. (Click here for a How-To Seder guide.)
To locate a public Seder near you, please click here.
The first night of Passover is referred to as leil shimurim (a night of guarding), based on Exodus 12:42.
Tuesday April 19—15 Nissan
1st day of Passover
Morning service. Full Hallel is recited. Two Torahscrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Exodus 12:21–51 and Numbers 28:16–25.
Haftorah: Joshua 3:5–7, 5:2–6:1, 6:27.
Beginning with the Musaf Amidah, we recite morid hatal, the prayer for dew, and we omit the prayer for rain. This practice continues until Shemini Atzeret, the day after Sukkot.
The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.
Festive lunch meal.
Complete Hallel is recited during Maariv evening prayers, followed by the “Counting of the Omer.” We count the 1st day of the Omer. The counting of the Omer is recited during each of the next forty-nine days, leading up to the holiday of Shavuot on the fiftieth day. The 49 days embody the 49 steps of self-improvement—beginning with the departure from our “personal” Egypt, until our arrival at Mount Sinai, when we are ready to accept the wisdom of the Torah.
After dark, light candles for the 2nd day of Passover, using an existing flame, and recite blessings 2 & 4. Click here for the blessings, and here for local candle-lighting times.
Second Seder: The Seder contains the observance of many Biblical and Rabbinic mitzvot, including: eating matzah, eating maror (bitter herbs), drinking four cups of wine, relating the story of the Exodus to our children, reclining as a symbol of freedom, etc. (Click here for a How-To Seder guide.)
Wednesday April 20—16 Nissan
2nd Day of Passover
Morning service. Full Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Leviticus 22:26–23:44 and Numbers 28:16–25.
Haftorah: II Kings 23:1–9, 21–25.
The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.
Festive lunch meal.
After nightfall, count the 2nd day of the Omer, and perform the Havdalah ceremony, omitting the blessing on the candle and spices.
Celebrate Passover’s intermediate days. Between now and the last two days of Passover, we may resume much (not all) of our regular workday activities; but, of course, we continue to eat Kosher for Passover foods exclusively. It is customary to drink a glass of wine each day, in celebration of the festival.
Thursday April 21—17 Nissan
3rd day of Passover
1st day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)
Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Passover, tefillin are not worn.
Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark. Torah reading: Exodus 13:1-16 and Numbers 28:19–25. The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.
The Intermediate Days are observed with limited work restrictions.
After nightfall, count the 3rd day of the Omer.
Friday April 22—18 Nissan
4th day of Passover
2nd day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)
Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Passover, tefillin are not worn.
Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark. Torah reading: Exodus 22:24–23:19 and Numbers 28:19–25. The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.
The Intermediate Days are observed with limited work restrictions.
Before sunset, light the Shabbat candles and recite blessing 1. Click here for the blessing, and here for local candle-lighting times.
Shabbat evening prayers begin with Mizmor leDavidrather than with Lechu Nerannenah. Following the Amidah, count the 4th day of the Omer.
Enjoy a relaxing Shabbat meal with Passover food (nochallah, of course—use two matzahs instead).
Shabbat April 23—19 Nissan
5th day of Passover
3rd day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)
Morning service: Normal Shabbat prayers, with the addition of the Yaaleh Veyavo insert in the Amidah.
Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark. Torah reading: Exodus 33:12–34:26 and Numbers 28:19–25. Haftorah: Ezekiel 37:1–14.
Holiday Musaf Amidah, with Shabbat inserts, is recited.
Festive lunch meal.
Atah Chonantanu is added in the Amidah of the evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 5th day of the Omer.
After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony.
Sunday April 24—20 Nissan
6th day of Passover
4th day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)
Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Passover, tefillin are not worn.
Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark. Torah reading: Numbers 9:1–14 and Numbers 28:19–25. The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.
The Intermediate Days are observed with limited work restrictions.
Light candles for the 7th day of Passover, and recite blessing 2. Click here for the blessing, and here for local candle-lighting times.
Evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 6th day of the Omer.
Festive holiday meal, complete with the holidaykiddush.
It is customary in many communities to remain awake all night, studying Torah, in commemoration of the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea, which occurred on the 7th day of Passover.
Monday April 25—21 Nissan
7th day of Passover—Shevi’i Shel Pesach
Morning service. Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Exodus 13:17–15:26 and Numbers 28:19–25.
Haftorah: II Samuel 22:1–51.
The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.
Festive lunch meal.
Evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 7th day of the Omer.
Light candles for the 8th day of Passover after dark, using an existing flame, and recite blessing 2. Click herefor the blessing, and here for local candle-lighting times.
Festive holiday meal, complete with the holidaykiddush.
Tuesday April 26—22 Nissan
Final Day of Passover—Acharon Shel Pesach
Morning service. Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17 and Numbers 28:19–25.
Haftorah: Isaiah 10:32–12:6.
The Yizkor memorial service is recited following the Torah reading.
The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.
Festive lunch meal.
On this final day of Passover we strive for the highest level of freedom, and focus on the Final Redemption. Following the Baal Shem Tov’s custom, we end Passover with “Moshiach’s Feast”—a festive meal complete with matzah and four cups of wine, during which we celebrate the imminent arrival of the Messiah. The feast begins before sunset and continues until after nightfall.
Evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 8th day of the Omer.
After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony, omitting the blessings on the spices and on the candle.
Nightfall is the official end of Passover (for the exact time, click here). Wait an hour to give the rabbi enough time to buy back your chametz before eating it.

Wednesday

April 27—23 Nissan
The day following the holiday is known as Isru Chag. It is forbidden to fast on this day.

PASSOVER PREPARATIONS (1): "An Overview"

PASSOVER PREPARATIONS

(1)

Passover

Passover
Artist: Rochelle Blumenfeld

Available for purchase in the Passover Section @ AJP
When is Passover? And how do people celebrate Passover?
Passover is an eight day festival which begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. Jewish holidays begin at sundown the night before, so for the year 2005, the first night of Passover will be April 23rd. Orthodox Jews observe the first two days and the last two days of Pesach as holy days similar to Shabbat. Conservative & Reform Jews generally celebrate Passover with seders on the first two nights, and all people who keep Passover eat matzah instead of unleavened bread throughout the week.
Traditionally, on the evening before Pesach begins with the first seder, a search for chametz (any product derived from grain) using a wooden spoon and a feather is conducted. The next morning the remaining chometz is burned and a special prayer is said to officially deny any ownership of any chametz (also spelled hametz). Cereals and other vegetables resembling hametz-producing grain such as rice, peas, beans, lentils, corn, legumes, millet are disallowed by Ashkenazic (Jews of Northern European descent) Jewish tradition, but many Sephardic Jews (of Spanish/Portuguese or Middle Eastern or African descent) have a different tradition which allows these foods for Passover. More information about these different Passover customs & traditions can be found here: Ashkenazic | Sephardic
The Passover Seder
Seder is a Hebrew word that means “order.” In this case, it specifically refers to the order of prayers and activities for the evening of Passover, stemming from the experience of the Israelites in Egypt as recounted in Chapter 12 of Exodus in the Bible when they left slavery in Egypt to become free.
The seder is guided by a Haggadah, which comes from a Hebrew word meaning “to explain” or “to narrate.” In Exodus 13:8 the Israelites are instructed to “Tell your child on that day, saying: It is because of that which God did for me when l came forth out of Egypt.” On the basis of this passage, it is considered a duty to narrate the story of the Exodus on the eve of Passover to pass along the story to future generations, as well as remind oneself of one's own history. Discussion of personal experiences & relation to a modern context is also highly encouraged, as the seder is meant to be a personal experience for all participants even though the events being discussed took place a long time ago. If you want to try a new haggadah for your seder, here are my recommended Passover Haggadahs & Companion Books.
I often have several non-Jewish friends at my seders. And the themes we talk about aren't about slaves in the traditional sense.

A large part of what we discuss is metaphysical & spiritual in nature, largely stemming from the Buddhist concept that attachment is what brings suffering life. And bondage is by definition, strong attachment. We talk about the bondage we put ourselves in every time we think about the insecurities we have about ourselves, the thoughts we think that put ourselves down, the negative core beliefs we continue to hold onto about ourselves even though they do not serve us. For all of us, the seder offers an opportunity to release--to discuss and free ourselves from the bondage of mental negativity that is part of everyone's human experience. Every participant is offered the chance to let themselves out of Egypt by letting go of shame, fear, hurt, anger, disappointment, grief, bitterness, judgement, and our old favorite the "I'm not good enough" belief--any thought or idea that drags them down, and having the group at the table support them in that moment by adding their energy and focus to the fulfillment of that effort. Leaving Egypt is a way to finding your soul, and you don't have to wander in the desert for 40 years to do it. In this way, the seder resonates and becomes very personal even for participants whose relatives were not slaves in Egypt, because for us, at our seder table, Egypt is a state of mind.
We also talk about oppression in parts of the world where it exists unchecked, and debate the role that our own country plays in keeping freedom from reaching some of those country's populaces with the policies we pursue as a nation that keep oppressive dictators in power. If this makes you uncomfortable, keep reading. I say this not because I hate America, but because I love America, and I want us to be as a nation closer to the ideals we claim to be about than to the reality of what I think we are, because there is no dream for freedom greater, or vision stronger than the one promised by America. It takes courage to admit that we have problems that need to be addressed, and it is this very strong attachment to "being right" and "all-powerful" and the very normal human desire to pretend like everything's OK because change takes hard work and strong mental commitment, that allow problems to persist on both a personal and national level. The seder offers a chance to think globally, and act locally, meaning, within yourself and your own life to reassess your part in the commitment to spread the American dream of freedom. We talk about the war in Iraq and soldiers willing to die to defend freedom, and we honor their sacrifices, and that of their families. We talk about children being sold as sex slaves in Asia, because even though we can do nothing while we all sit at the table to help them, we can at least remember them in the moment , because the fact that they are not forgotten means there is at least a place to begin to solve that problem. And we ask everyone to think about what they can do after the seder to bring freedom to someone--to themselves, by letting go of whatever's holding them back, to a friend, by being there in support to help someone else let go of something troubling them and enter their "promised land", or to others in another country or our own country by reaching out as a volunteer or making a financial contribution to make a difference.
Candles are lit to start Passover, just as on any Sabbath or Festival. Many people like to use pillows at the table and eat reclining, because in ancient times to eat that way was the sign of being free. Prominent on the seder table is the Seder Plate.
The Seder Plate
Decorative Seder Plates, Art & Passover Ritual Items
(made by American & Israeli artists)
The Seder plate includes Maror (bitter herbs, to remind of the suffering of slavery), Charoset (apple nut mixture resembling mortar used by slaves to build bricks, yet sweet to remind of sweetness after suffering), Pascal Lamb (Kosher Shankbone, to represent the ancient sacrifice of the Paschal lamb (Pesach) which had to be eaten roasted, & remind of how the Lord "posach" or "passed" over the houses of the Jews when visiting the plagues because they smeared lamb's blood over their door frames to mark their houses, Baytza (roasted egg, representing both fertility and renewal of Spring and the required roasted offering brought on all festivals in the Temple), Karpas (parsley, dipped in salt water to remind seder participants of the tears shed during times of slavery.) and Chazaret (lettuce or watercress, a symbol of how the rich born free began their meals — with salad instead of bread).
Four cups of wine are had during the seder because of the four promises made to Jewish ancestors when they were freed from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 6:6-7). “I will take you out” of the land of bondage. “I will save” you.“ I will free” you from slavery. “ I will take” you to be a Chosen People. Kiddish is said over the first cup of wine. The Cup of Elijah, filled with wine, is kept on the table untasted throughout the Seder, and the door to the house is kept ajar in the hope that the Prophet Elijah may appear as a messenger of God and announce the coming of the Messiah. A second cup, called Miriam's Cup, is a new addition to the Passover dinner table, you can read all about Miriam and Miriam's Cup to learn more about Passover's heroine.

Try Handmade Shmura Matzoh this Passover!
Matzah (plural : matzot) is unleavened and unfermented bread. It is the bread that the Israelites baked during their hasty flight from Egypt that left no timne for bread to rise. Three matzot are placed in the Seder tray. Half of the middle matzah, becomes the Afikomen (dessert), and is playfully “stolen” by a child and ransomed back to the adults prior to the second half of the seder for a prize, or as in my family's tradition, it is hidden by the adults, found by the children then sold back to the adults for some cash. (Note to children: Grandpas generally give the best exchange rates.) Shmura is a special hand-made, round-shaped Matzah, , that in my opinion, tastes way better than the regular matzah you get at the grocery store. Shmura comes from a Hebrew word meaning "to watch or to guard" indicating that the entire process of making the matzah is carefully supervised by a rabbi from the moment the grain is harvested until the finished matzahs are packaged. Shmura matzah is made in small batches, often of whole grain flour, in areas with large Jewish populations, but you can order it from the above link if you want to try it. It's what I use for my seders every year.
Along with various prayers for each of the items on the seder plate, Highlights of the seder service include:
The Four Questions
(asked by the youngest at the table)
all answered in decription of the seder above

Four Question Passover Puppet Set

Each two sided puppet shows why Passover is different from all other nights of the year.
On all other nights we eat all kinds of breads. Why do we eat only matzoh on Pesach?
On all other nights we eat many kinds of vegetables and herbs. Why do we eat bitter herbs, maror, at our Seder?
On all other nights we don't usually dip our foods. Why do we dip our foods twice tonight?
On all other nights we eat sitting up straight? Why do we lean on a pillow tonight and eat reclining?
The Reciting of the Ten Plagues
1 Blood
2 Frogs
3 Lice (vermin)
4 Wild Beasts(flies)
5 Blight (Cattle Disease)
6 Boils
7 Hail
8 Locusts
9 Darkness
10 Slaying of the First Born
10 Passover Plagues Puppet Set

An excellent & fun learning tool
for children at the seder
"Dayenu" It Would Have Been Enough
Perhaps the most famous of Passover songs, this song is about commemorating the miracles of Passover. Each of the plagues is consdiered a miracle, because the Jews were spared from each, and the fact that even after Pharaoh freed the Jews, yet another miracle occured after Pharoah decided he didn't want to let Moses' people go after all, when God parted the Red Sea to allow the Jews to escape from the Pharaoh's army who were chasing them down across the desert, then once the Jews were safely across, closed the sea on Pharaoh's army, sending them to a watery grave.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Feasts of the Lord: Passover <Preparations 1>

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Feasts of the Lord is a "Feature Series" that in preparation of an upcoming Feast is posted to prepare and to study.
Passover is Coming
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PASSOVER

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The Spirit of God

Monday, April 11, 2011

PASSOVER PREPARATIONS (4): "The Passover Calendar - 2011" -Chabad

The Passover Calendar - 2011

PASSOVER PREPARATIONS (1): "An Overview"

Friday, April 8, 2011

Feasts of the Lord: Passover <Preparations 1>

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