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Passover
How To
The
Seder night, when family and friends gather together to commemorate
our redemption from slavery in Egypt, is more than just a festive
meal--the Seder is a crucial vehicle for understanding the Exodus.
For those experiencing the Seder night for the first time, or as
a reference for those who want a refresher, the following is an
outline of what to expect:
YOM TOV - The First Festival Days
Passover is a 7 day (8 days outside of Israel) holiday. The first
day (first two days outside of Israel) are Yamim Tovim - days
which are observed with the same rules as the Sabbath. (Cooking
from an existing flame and carrying, however, are permitted).
Candle lighting
Shabbat
and all Jewish holidays always begin the evening before. Because
Passover begins on Saturday night (immediately following Shabbat),
candles are lit no earlier than one hour after sunset on both
the first and second night of Yom Tov.
Because one may not create a fire on Shabbat or Yom Tov, the candles
must be lit from a pre-existing flame. For this reason, many people
light a yahrtzeit candle (25 hour candle) before Shabbat, or leave
a burner lit on the stove before Shabbat.
The procedure for lighting candles for a holiday varies slightly
from Sabbath candle-lighting:
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The blessings are said before lighting the candles.
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The end of the blessing is changed to represent the Yom Tov [festival]
and includes Shabbat, when applicable:
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Baruch
atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu Melech Ha-olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav
v'tzeevanu l'hadlik ner shel [Shabbat v'] Yom Tov.
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Blessed
are you L-rd, our G-d, Ruler of the world, who sanctified
us through His commandments and commanded us to kindle the
lights of the [the Sabbath and] Yom Tov [festival]
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An additional blessing, Sheh'heh'cheh'yanu, is pronounced to acknowledge
the good fortune of being able to experience the holiday:
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Baruch
atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu Melech Ha-olam, sheh'heh'cheh'yanu
v'kee'manu v'hee'gee'anu la'zman ha'zeh
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Blessed
are you L-rd, our G-d, Ruler of the world, Who has kept
us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
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Evening services are held in the synagogue.
The Seder (Please click
here for details on the Passover Seder)
Changes in the morning synagogue service
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During Shacharit, the morning service, the Festival Amidah is
recited.
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Hallel
- Hallel
is a collection of Psalms that are recited on the festivals
and Rosh Chodesh (the new month).
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Hallel can be found in the siddur (Jewish prayerbook).
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Full Hallel is recited on the first two days of Passover.
Half-Hallel is recited on the remaining days of the holiday.
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The Torah Reading
- On
the first day of Passover, Exodus 12:21-51 is read in synagogue.
- On
the second day of Passover, Leviticus 22:26-23:44 is
read in synagogue.
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The maftir (additional reading) on both days is Numbers
28:16-25.
- The
haftorah (prophetic message) on the first day is from the
Book of Joshua, 3:5-7, 5:2-6:1, and 6:27.
The haftorah on the second day is from Kings II, 23:1-9 and
23:21-25.
- The
Prayer for Dew
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On Passover, the prayer for rain, which began on Shmini Atzeret
(the final days of Sukkot), is discontinued and the prayer
for dew is now recited.
- The
cantor recites the prayer for dew during the repetition of
the Mussaf (additional) service on the first day of Passover.
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In the Silent Amidah, morid ha'tal, "He who makes the
dew descend," is inserted. Morid ha'tal is added to each
service until Shmini Atzeret. Many congregations, however,
merely omit the previously said mashiv ha'ruach u' morid ha'geshem.
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In the weekday Amidah, v'ten bracha, "and give blessing,"
replaces v'ten tal u'matar liv'racha, "and give dew and
rain for a blessing," in the 9th blessing.
The
Festive Lunch
- The
Festival day Kiddush (blessing over wine), found in the siddur
(prayer book), is recited.
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Ha'Motzee - After a ritual washing of the hands, the blessing
is made over two whole matzot, the pieces of which are sprinkled
with salt.
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A festive meal is eaten, followed by the Grace After Meals with
the addition of Y'aleh V'Yavo, "He will go up and he will
come..." for the Passover holidays and the holiday insertion
towards the conclusion of "Harachamon."
Mincha, the afternoon service is recited with the special Festival
Amidah (and the special insertions for Shabbat, when applicable).
Havdalah
At
the conclusion of the second day of Yom Tov, Havdalah, separating
holy days from week days, is recited in the evening Amidah. This
Havdalah is followed by the formal Havdalah, which consists of
only the blessing over grape juice (HaGafen) and the Havdalah
blessing (HaMavdil), which can be found in the prayer book
One may not prepare on the first day of Yom Tov for the second
day of Yom Tov. One should wait until after nightfall to set the
table, prepare the Seder plate, or any other activity not meant
for the enjoyment of the first day itself.
Chol HaMoed - The Interim Days
Passover is a 7 day holiday (8 days outside of Israel). The first
day and the last day (first two days and last two days outside of
Israel) are Yamim Tovim - days which are kept like Sabbath (Cooking
from an existing flame and carrying, however, are permitted). The
in between days are known as Chol HaMoed - weekday of the festival.
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During Chol HaMoed, it is customary to continue the holiday spirit
and avoid unnecessary work. Many people do not go to work, avoid
shopping, and try to refrain from such chores as laundry, except
for that which is essential for the holiday.
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The prohibition of eating chametz continues throughout the holiday.
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In the synagogue, the Torah is read and Half-Hallel (festive Psalms)
and Mussaf (the additional service) are added to the daily service.
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On Shabbat of Chol HaMoed (or if Shabbat falls on the seventh
day of Passover), Shir HaShirim, Song of Songs, is read before
the Torah Reading. This is an Ashkenazic custom.
The Last Two Days
Candle lighting
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Shabbat and all Jewish holidays always begin at sunset of the
evening before. On the Sabbath and Yom Tov [festival] candles
are lit 18 minutes before sunset to welcome the holiday. On the
second night of Yom Tov, candles are lit no earlier than one hour
after sunset.
- Two
candles (minimum) are lit, then both hands are waved towards the
face, symbolically drawing in the light of the candles and the
sanctity of the Sabbath/Yom Tov. The eyes are covered and the
blessing is recited. On the second night, Saturday night, the
blessing is said first, without the Shabbat addition, and only
then are the candles lit (from a pre-existing flame).
On Friday night, insert the bracketed words:
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Baruch
atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu Melech Ha-olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav
v'tzeevanu l'hadlik ner shel [Shabbat v']Yom Tov.
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Blessed
are you L-rd, our G-d, Ruler of the world, who sanctified
us through His commandments and commanded us to kindle the
lights of [the Sabbath and] Yom Tov (festival).
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On the last days of Passover one does not add the additional blessing,
sheh'heh'cheh'yanu, as one does on other festivals.
Evening services are held in the synagogue.
A festive meal is eaten, preceded
by the Festival Kiddush, ritual washing of the hands and Ha'Motzee,
which is made over two whole matzot. The meal is followed by the
Grace After Meals with the addition of Y'aleh V'Yavo, "May
there rise and come...", in honor of the holiday, and the Harachamon
for the festival.
Because Yom Tov and Shabbat overlap, be sure to include all the
Shabbat additions on Friday night and Saturday. On Saturday night,
the festival Kiddush is altered to include Havdalah for the conclusion
of Shabbat.
Changes in the morning synagogue service
During Shacharit, the morning service, the Festival Amidah is recited.
Hallel
Hallel is a collection of Psalms that are recited on the festivals
and Rosh Chodesh (the new month). Only the Half-Hallel is recited
after the first (two) days of Passover.
Hallel can be found in the siddur (Jewish prayerbook).
The Torah Reading
- On
the seventh day of Passover, Exodus 13:17-15:26 is read in synagogue.
- On
the second day of Passover, Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17 is read in
synagogue.
The maftir (additional reading) on both days is Numbers 28:26-31.
The haftorah (prophetic message) on the seventh day is from the
Samuel II 22:1-51.
The haftorah on the second day is from Isaiah 10:32-12:6.
Yizkor - The Memorial Service
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The Yizkor Memorial Service is recited on the last day of all
festivals -- Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot and on Yom Kippur.
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While those who have passed away are no longer able to effect
their own spiritual growth, the deeds of their children may result
in additional merit for their souls.
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According to some Ashkenazic customs, those whose parents are
both living leave the sanctuary during Yizkor. In Sephardic custom,
everyone remains in the sanctuary while the cantor recites Yizkor.
A
festive meal is eaten, preceded by the daytime festival Kiddush,
ritual washing of the hands and HaMotzee, which is made over two
whole matzot. The meal is followed by the Grace After Meals with
the addition of Y'aleh V'Yavo, "May there rise and come...",
in honor of the holiday and the Harachamon for the festival.
Mincha, the afternoon service is recited
with the special Festival Amidah (and the special insertions for
Shabbat, as well as including the weekly Torah reading for Shabbat
Mincha, when applicable).
Havdalah - At the conclusion of the
second day of Yom Tov, Havdalah, separating holy days from week
days, is recited in the evening Amidah. This Havdalah is followed
by the formal Havdalah, which consists of only the blessing over
grape juice (HaGafen) and the Havdalah blessing (HaMavdil), which
can be found in the prayer book
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