Pesach - Belle Harbor Chai Center

THE PESACH SEDER

Community Seder | April 22, 8:45pm

Dear Friends,

We’d like to invite you to our Community Seder, a unique and enriching experience with round hand baked matzah, four cups of wine, a delicious full-course meal, traditional songs and of course the four questions. With clear explanations at every stage of the Seder and opportunities for real discussion, everyone will feel engaged. An extra special effort is made to involve the children.

Whether you are a seder veteran or a curious explorer, our seder offers a stimulating and satisfying experience.

Join us in thanking G‑d for the miracles of the past and praying for greater miracles yet to come!

Rabbi Levi and Lea Osdoba

Seder at Home

What supplies do I need?

Here’s what you’ll need for the Seder:

Haggadah booklets
Matzah (handmade shmurah matzah is ideal)
Wine or grape juice
Maror (bitter herbs, typically romaine lettuce and grated horseradish)
Vegetable for dipping (karpas)
Saltwater (yep, just salt and water)
Food for your Passover feast (make sure it’s kosher for Passover and does not contain roast meat)
Roasted shank (Make sure it still has some meat on it, or the bone is invalid. The Chabad custom is to use a chicken neck, which may be easier to procure than a lamb shank.)
Charoset (Chabad custom is to make it out of chopped apple, pear, nuts and wine.)
Eggs (hardboiled)
Cutlery (either disposable or kosher for Passover)

More: Full Seder Shopping List

Order the Seder-To-Go kit on the next page.

Can you suggest a Haggadah I can print online?

Chabad.org has a number of options. Pick one to fit your style and print as many as you need. Print My Haggadah

Who should light the candles?

All women and girls (from around the age of three) should light candles. Unmarried women light one candle, and married women light two. If you are in a male-only household, a man should light two candles and say the appropriate blessings.

Read: Passover Candle-Lighting Blessings

When is the earliest time to begin the Seder?

The Seder must begin after night has fallen. This is in accordance with the verse, “In the evening, you shall eat unleavened cakes.” Practically, this means that the entire Seder, which centers around the consumption of matzah, must begin after night has fallen. Also note that on the second night, you cannot even begin to prepare for the Seder until nightfall. This is the same no matter how many people are in attendance.

Read: When Is the Earliest Time to Start the Seder?

Is it really important to do a Seder both nights?

Yes, it may seem like a rerun, but the second Seder is important. To shake things up, use a Haggadah with some different commentaries for you to read on the second night. And if you’re celebrating with family members, make sure to have some fresh stories or insights reserved for night number two.

Read: How Important Is the Second Seder?

What is the very minimum I can do?

In a perfect world, every Jew should celebrate the entire Seder, from the first cup to the last. However, if you will not be doing that, here are the basics:

At your kitchen sink, fill a cup with water, and pour three times on your right hand and three times on your left. Then say the following blessing:

Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of hands.

Pick up your matzah in your right hand and say the following two blessings:

Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the eating of matzah.

Eat the matzah while reclining to your left, in the manner of ancient nobility.

Ideally you should have a member of your household join you as you discuss the Exodus. Retell some aspects of the 10 Plagues, the Splitting of the Sea and the miraculous story of our nation’s journey from slavery to freedom. If you are alone, you can be your own captive audience.

(Don’t forget to do this again the following night.)

SELL YOUR CHAMETZ

The Sale of Chametz

Any chametz left undisposed must be sold to a non-Jew. Since there are many legal intricacies involved in this sale, a rabbi acts as our agent both to sell the chametz to the non-Jew on the morning before Pesach and also to buy it back the evening after Pesach ends. Use this online form to quickly delegate a rabbi to sell your chametz for you.

Click here to sell your Chametz. Fill out the form by Sunday, April 21.

SCHEDULE

Schedule of Pesach 2024

Sunday, April 21
Bedikat Chametz (Search for Chametz) 8:11 PM

Monday, April 22
Fast of the Firstborn
Finish Eating Chametz before 10:36 AM
Sell & Burn Chametz before 11:45 AM

1ST SEDER NIGHT
Light Candles 7:25 PM
(Say Blessings 2 & 4)

Tuesday, April 23
1ST DAY OF PASSOVER
Morning Services: 9:00 AM

2ND SEDER NIGHT
Light Candles* after 8:27 PM
(Say Blessings 2 & 4)

Wednesday, April 24
2ND DAY OF PASSOVER
Morning Services: 9:00 AM
Havdalah: after 8:28 PM

Friday, April 26
Light Candles 7:29 PM (Say Blessings 1)

Shabbos, April 27
Shabbos Ends: 8:32 PM

Sunday, April 28
Light Candles: 7:31 PM

Monday, April 29
PASSOVER – 7TH DAY
Morning Services: 9:00 AM
Light Candles after 8:34 PM
(Say Blessing 2)

Tuesday, April 30
FINAL DAY OF PASSOVER
Morning Services: 9:00 AM
Yizkor Memorial Service at 10:00 AM
Shabbat/Holiday Ends 8:35 PM

Candle Lighting

1. The Blessing for Friday-Night Shabbat Candles
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm ah-sher ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl shah-baht koh-dehsh.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲ-דֹנָי אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת קֹדֶשׁ

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.

2. The Blessing for Holiday Candles
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm ah-sher ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl yohm tohv.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲ-דֹנָי אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Yom Tov light.

3. The Blessing for Shabbat/Holiday Candles
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm ah-sher ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl shah-baht veh-shehl yohm tohv.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲ-דֹנָי- אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Shabbat and Yom Tov light.

4. Additional Blessing for Holiday Candles (Except for the Final Days of Passover)
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲ-דֹנָי אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְמַן הַזֶּה

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

* Light only from a pre-existing flame.

Maos Chittim

Gifts to the Needy

“All who are hungry, let them come and eat.” We must ensure that our brothers and sisters have the means to celebrate freedom too.

Most of the people who are hungry will not be standing in our dining rooms as we begin our Seder, waiting for the invitation. As such, in preparation for the Passover holiday, it is age-old Jewish tradition to contribute generously towards funds that ensure that indeed everyone who is in need has the necessary provisions for the holiday—food, matzah, wine, festive clothing, etc.

Holiday of Freedom

Pesach April 22 - 30