Ma Nishtana! How different is this Pesach from all other years!?

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A Pesach Guide for another different Pesach

Dear TBZ Community,

Ma Nishtana!?

How different is this Pesach from all other years!? We asked this same question a year ago before Pesach, not imagining that we would be asking the same question a year later. All other years, we gather together in homes with friends and family to celebrate our freedom. This year, once again, the coronavirus pandemic continues to necessitate that we remain physically separate while connecting in creative ways. We recognize that some people might be able to gather with family and friends as they are vaccinated. We encourage you to continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC regarding gatherings. Loving our neighbor and arevut hadadit, the value of communal responsibility, must continue to be at the center of how we make our personal decisions.

If you are switching over your kitchen to Kosher for Passover, here is some guidance and resources in celebrating Pesach this year.

First Night of Pesach is on Saturday March 27th. 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 (bedikat hametz)
By Friday morning (around 11:43am), the practice is to be rid of almost all our hametz by burning or selling it (Click here to sell your Hametz!).

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

1. Eat hametz carefully. The hametz sale will include 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 morning (this is a great time for recyclable/compostable paper plates or outdoor dining). We finish eating the hametz by 10:43am , and dispose of any leftovers by 11:43am. 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 nor is it hametz. So, it’s possible to use two sheets of it in the place of challah, and thus be totally kosher-for-Passover.

Pesach Kashrut Guide for Our Current Reality

The annual guide to Pesach Kashrut provided by the Conservative Movement's Rabbinical Assembly, can be found here. Some guidelines that can be helpful especially during COVID for this year can be found here.

Selling Your Hametz

Hametz is leavened food and is forbidden on Pesach. Jews may not own, eat or benefit from hametz during Passover. Where disposing of hametz will result in considerable financial loss, it is permissible to temporarily sell one's hametz to someone who is not Jewish, who owns the hametz during Pesach and relinquishes it after Pesach.

Rav Claudia will sell the hametz to the Rector of All Saints Parish, Rev. Richard Burden, if possible, in a socially distanced transaction and if not in a virtual (phone, or zoom) transaction. Rav Claudia will complete the transaction on Friday Morning, March 26. All hametz in your possession that will not be consumed during Shabbat (see above) should be stored and sealed by the latest time for burning hametz on Friday, March 26, 2021 and should remain stored away for the duration of Pesach. This hametz will not belong to you until 9pm on Sunday, April 4th, 2021.

During this time of hardship, we understand that it might be harder than other years to get rid of all the hametz and prepare for Pesach. Jewish tradition calls us to prioritize our lives and the lives of others. Pikuach Nefesh (the principle in Jewish tradition that says that preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious rule) has to be at the center of all that you do. Please have this in mind when cleaning and preparing for Pesach. Please fill out THIS form to authorize Rav Claudia to sell your hametz.

Celebrate Pesach with TBZ

First Day of Pesach Service:

Sunday, March 28

at 10:00am

ZOOM LINK HERE

Second Night Seder:

Escaping our Narrow Places: Finding and Making Space

Sunday, March 28th at 7pm

Join the TBZ community for a participatory 2nd night seder, featuring stories ,music and experiences from our own community. Beit Rabban Parsley, the fir kashas in Yiddish, music, dancing, there’s something for everyone! AND, since we’re on Zoom, BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! What a wonderful time to share the TBZ community with others! Print and color a leek ahead of time for Dayeinu! (Why? You can wait until seder to find out, or read this article).

Friday Night 7th Night Pesach

Shabbat & 7th Night Pesach service, including Yizkor

Saturday, April 3

at 10:00am

ZOOM LINK HERE

Sunday, April 4th

8th day Hike out of Egypt!

Led by the Klaubtraubs, in person, more info to come.

Here we offer a some Passover resources:

Ten Tips for Making your Seder Next to Normal by Rabbi Yael Buechler

Hebrew College Passover Companion Please note that this companion is dedicated in honor of our dear TBZ member Judith Kates! And one of the editors is TBZ member Gail Twersky Reimer. It can be ordered or accessed online.

Torah Tech Tips by Rabbi David Paskin sharing tips in this video of how to make your Digital Passover Seder spectacular

The Five Women of the Exodus: A Feminist Supplement to the Haggadah

by the National Council of Jewish Women

Hadar Institute in New York offers a series of videos to show How to Kasher your Kitchen. This is the introductory Video.

Passover@Home, by CJP. Get your exclusive Passover content, including a Haggadah, recipe for cinnamon apple matzo brei, cocktail tutorial, Passover playlist, craft project, guided meditation, and much more.

#BlackLivesMatter Haggadah Supplement by Jews For Racial & Economic Justice

How to Celebrate Passover During the Pandemic published in Kveller a year ago and still very relevant!

The Four Children and COVID-19 by Jordan Namerow, published last year and still relevant

Sustainable Passover Resources from Hazon

Preparing for Pesach with Noam Zion. The resources he offered during the Rosh Hodesh Nisan Prep session can be found here.

Sefaria.org: Your Best Seder Prep Tool Workshop with Rabbi Loren Berman

Haggadot for purchase/download

You can find online many choices for Haggadot. We offer you a short list:

Make you own Haggadah at Haggadot.com

The Ayeka Haggadah: Hearing Your Own Voice. Now everyone at your Seder table can feel fully present, personally engaged and active. Complete with the full Seder text and filled with questions and activities that encourage self reflection, “The Ayeka Haggadah” helps guests of all ages come to the Seder ready to share, participate and connect with one another.

HIAS Haggadah. Explore the connections between the ancient Passover story and today's refugees

My Haggadah : Made it Myself (for families): Make your own Haggadah!

An Unbound Haggadah: The Unbound Haggadah is a limited-edition series of 12 cards containing the complete text of the traditional haggadah in Hebrew and in English, designed with visuals that illustrate old and new interpretations of the text.

Haggadahs-R-Us: You can find here the Haggadot of Noam Zion, who was our scholar in residence last year

PJ library Haggadah

And Last but not least, you can watch the following TBZ recordings we offer for learning and inspiration: