Passover Resources from Our Rabbi

Preparing for Pesach:

Please see the Pesach guide from the Rabbinical Assembly for more information about cleaning and kashering your home for the holiday and Pesach-appropriate foods. You can watch these videos made by Rabbi Jeremy Markiz to learn more about Kashering a Kitchen.

If you have any additional questions as you prepare, please reach out to me at [email protected].

  • Sale of Chametz:

To appoint me as your agent for the sale of chametz, please complete this form by Wednesday, April 13th. It is customary to make a donation when you designate a representative to sell chametz on your behalf.

  • Maot Chittim - Providing for those in Need

It is special mitzvah before Pesach to ensure that all in our community have the food they need to celebrate the holiday.

This year, Bergen County Synagogues are partnering together to sponsor Ukrainian families in Poland for the Seder of 5782. The cost for each participant for Seder is $50. We are asking people to sponsor up to 4 souls. Please send your checks to Temple Emanu-El – Ukrainian Seder fund, or click here to donate online, please select Ukrainian Seder Fund 5782 as the Tribute Name when completing the form.

You can also support those in need in the US and locally by donating to organizations such as Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern NJMazon,

  • Ta’anit bechorot - Fast of the first born - Friday, April 15th

Traditionally, all first-born children fast the day leading into the first night of Pesach. One can end a fast early if you participate in a siyum - a celebration of the completion of a significant portion of learning. This year ta’anit bechorot is moved back to Thursday so that it does not lead into or fall on Shabbat.

You can register for a virtual siyum sponsored by the Rabbinical Assembly here.

  • Bedikat Chametz - Evening of Thursday, April 14th

After cleaning and preparing our homes for the holiday, we conduct a final search for any remaining leavened products. **This one-page sheet includes text, instructions, and transliteration for the ritual of bedikat chametz and the biur chametz: Download the Search for Hameitz Sheet

  • Biur chametz - Morning of Friday, April 15

Last time for eating chametz - 10:43 am (in Englewood)

Burn or destroy any chametz in your possession by 11:43 am.

The Teaneck Jewish Center is hosting a communal bi’ur chametz - the Big Bread Burn, on Friday from 8 - 11:45 am. The Fire Dept will be present to ensure safety.

Seders - Evenings of Friday April 15th & Saturday, April, 16th

Seder Match

Do you have room for guests at your seder table? Would you like to be matched with a host for one of the sedarim? Email us at [email protected] and we will make you a match!

Passover Haggadah: The Feast of Freedom

Free digital haggadah: To download the haggadah as a PDF, click here.

Even More Pesach Resources!

RA resources, including links to many of the resources I included above, all in one convenient place!  https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/jewish-law/holidays/pesah/pesah-prep

JTS Commentary, videos, and more: https://www.jtsa.edu/passover-resources

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Rabbi Lindsey Healey-Pollack