My teacher, Dr. David Kraemer, tells the following story about a Passover he celebrated many years ago when his daughter was young. On seder night, the Kraemer family gathered together for candle-lighting and recited the blessing, finishing with the words
l’hadlik ner shel Yom Tov
— Praised are You, God, who commands us to light holiday candles. Immediately Dr. Kraemer’s daughter — who was accustomed to the Shabbat version of the ritual — piped up with a clear voice: “Why is tonight different?” At which point Dr. Kraemer turned to his family and said, “We’re done for the evening! Our responsibility to conduct a Passover seder has just been fulfilled!”
Indeed, there are so very many things that make Passover different this year, the pain of being separated from family and friends and forced to celebrate the holiday with far fewer guests around our seder table being by far the most difficult. As much as we may be tempted to bend rules of social distancing to prepare for the holiday and especially to spend it with loved ones, I will remind us that
pikuach nefesh
(preserving human life) remains our tradition’s very highest value. Staying in place these days is literally a matter of life and death.
Seder via Video Conferencing
Given the extraordinary risks that exist this year, and in an effort to urge individuals to stay home and stay safe, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) recently published the following
letter
addressing the issue of attending seder by video-conference. While I encourage you to read the entire statement for yourself, some important take-aways include:
- The CJLS has already deemed virtual presence acceptable for many different rituals; the issue here is thus not seder via video-conference but rather the use of video-conference on Shabbat and Yom Tov (a holiday).
- Leniencies in the laws of Shabbat and holidays relate to one who may be at a risk of a life-threatening illness, a category into which most (if not all) of us fall this year.
- Those who wish to rely on this leniency to use video-conferencing on Pesach should do so in a way that minimizes violation of the holiday — specific information is contained in the letter.
- These guidelines are for this year only, recognizing the extraordinary circumstances of the moment, and should not be seen as precedent in any way.
- Most importantly we should all stay safe, both physically and emotionally. These final words are mine, and not those of the CJLS, but I believe that participating in seder via video-conference is preferable to risking human life by joining together with those outside our home. Individuals, particularly those living alone, who feel the psychological/emotional pressures of isolation to be overwhelming should feel comfortable using this option.
TIC “Live” Events
While, as a congregation, TIC will continue to refrain from Zoom services on Shabbat and holidays, we look forward to celebrating Pesach together at the following gatherings:
TIC Community Seder
Sunday, April 5 from 5:00–5:45 pm
Get into the spirit of the holiday with an intergenerational community mock seder complete with songs, games, stories, and lots of questions for those of all ages:
https://zoom.us/j/774721951
.
Siyyum Bekhorim
(
Siyyum
for First Borns)
Wednesday, April 8 at 7:30 am
Join us for minyan at 7:30 am followed by a
siyyum
(completion of learning ceremony) led by members of our community who have recently finished studying major pieces of Jewish text. In the spirit of celebration which is shared by a whole community, first borns who attend are released from the traditional pre-Passover fast:
https://zoom.us/j/169833442
.
Yizkor
Tuesday, April 14 at 8:00 am and 5:00 pm
Since we can’t be together on the eighth day of Pesach, we will hold early Yizkor services during which we’ll share words of reflection and memory, recite the traditional liturgy, and come together in memory of our loved ones now departed:
https://zoom.us/j/169833442
(am),
https://zoom.us/j/450826751
(pm).
Preparing for the Holiday
Halakhic Guidance in the Time of COVID-19
Understanding that directives to stay in place combined with supply chain disruptions may make preparations for Passover unusually complicated this year, the CJLS has also recently released the following statement on
cleaning and kashruth
. I would again urge individuals to read this document in its entirety but include the following highlights below:
- The Rabbinical Assembly’s regular Pesach Guide is here and should be followed as closely as possible including careful cleaning/kashering for the holiday as well as the purchase of foods suitable for Passover.
- In those situations where individuals are elderly, unwell, or otherwise unable to prepare fully for the holiday, alternate guidelines are suggested. Individuals should not endanger themselves by getting ready for Pesach.
- Many foods may be bought for Pesach without a special kosher for Passover heksher and even more may be used for the holiday without this heksher provided that they’re purchased before Passover begins. A full list of these items is in the guides above. Additionally, if necessary because of food supply shortages, even some foods that should ideally be purchased before Pesach in order to be consumed without a special heksher can be eaten this year even if purchased during the intermediate days of the holiday. Again, please consult the above guides for further information.
- A teshuvah allowing the eating of kitniyoth (legumes) on Passover was passed by the CJLS in 2015 and certainly should be relied upon in these challenging times.
Mechirat
H
ametz
(Selling
H
ametz
)
Given the dangers involved this year with individuals selling
h
ametz
in person to their rabbis and with rabbis selling
h
ametz
in person to their buyers, the Rabbinical Assembly has deputized Rabbi Mordy Schwartz to serve as agent for our movement in the collective sale of
h
ametz
this holiday. TIC will thus not be coordinating our own
mechirat
h
ametz
and individuals should instead sell online
here
. Please note that this form must be filled out before 2:00 pm on Tuesday, April 7.
Ma’ot Hittim
Before Passover, it is customary to give
Ma’ot Hittim
, charity for the Passover needs of the poor. Especially given the significant financial hardships that may now exist in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge anyone who is able to be especially generous this year. Some of us might think about the money we will be saving by having smaller seders and donating those funds to this effort. Donations will eventually be made to the New York Board of Rabbis’
Ma’ot Hittim
Fund, which serves the entire New York metropolitan area but may be channeled through my Discretionary Fund:
- Online donations can be made at www.templeisraelcenter.org/secure/Donations. Please choose “Rabbi Tucker’s Discretionary Fund” under "Select Giving Opportunity." The Ma'ot Hittim check box will appear under the fund once you choose Rabbi Tucker's Fund; please check the box.
OR
- Mail checks payable to “Rabbi Tucker’s Discretionary Fund” to Temple Israel Center, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains, NY 10605. Please write “Ma’ot Hittim” in the memo line.
Yom Tov Times for White Plains
The following are the candle-lighting and other times for Passover this year:
Wednesday, April 8 (Erev Passover)
10:20 am – Latest time to eat hametz
11:35 am – Latest time to burn hametz
7:10 pm – First night candle-lighting
Thursday, April 9 (Passover Day 1)
8:11 pm – Second night candle-lighting
(transferring from a pre-existing flame)
Friday, April 10 (Passover Day 2)
7:12 pm – Shabbat candle-lighting
(transferring from a pre-existing flame)
Tuesday, April 14 (Passover Day 6)
7:14 pm – Candle-lighting
Wednesday, April 15 (Passover Day 7)
8:18 pm – Candle-lighting
and lighting of Yizkor candle (transferring from a pre-existing flame)
Thursday, April 16 (Passover Day 8)
8:19 pm – Holiday ends!
Seder Resources
I imagine that many of us may be making seder for the very first time, separated from our usual hosts, and in my Erev Shabbat message this week I will be including some resources that may be helpful. Keep watching your inbox for further information!
This year will feel so very different and yet I hope that it can still be filled with some amount of meaning, joy, and connection with those we love! Please be in touch if I can be of help in any way.
Wishing you an early
chag sameach
(happy holiday),
