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Pesach Guide

Pesach Product Guide
Shabbos morning schedule:
  • There are two opinions for the latest time to eat and dispose of Chametz. Ideally, one should follow the stricter view, to finish eating Chametz by 10:30 and dispose of any remaining Chametz by 11:44.
  • Shacharis on Shabbos morning will start one hour early (beginning 7:30 with Barchu at 8:00); we aim to be finished by 9:00 or shortly thereafter. On Yom Tov (Sunday and Monday morning), Shacharis will be at the usual time (beginning 8:30 with Barchu at 9:00).



Much of the following guide is taken from the Vaad Harabbonim of Queens: 


Before Pesach Thursday
  • The Fast of the Firstborn is pushed back to Thursday. It is customary to arrange a Siyum (celebration upon completing a portion of Torah), which allows all in attendance to break their fast. We plan to have a Siyum at Shul following 6:30 am Shacharis on Thursday morning.
  • Bedikas Chametz (the search for Chametz) will take place on Thursday evening, followed by the first recitation of Kol Chamira (nullification of Chametz).
Friday
  • Although it is not yet Erev Pesach, we burn the Chametz on Friday morning at the usual time  - 11:45 am - to avoid confusion. 
  • Chametz that cannot be burned can be destroyed by pouring bleach over it and then throwing in the trash, flushing it down the toilet, etc. It is problematic to throw edible Chametz into the trash if it remains in one's trash can and/or on one's property. One may ask for permission to put it in a non-Jewish neighbor's trash can, or leave it on the street in a disposable bag.
  • We do not recite Kol Chamira (nullification of Chametz) when burning Chametz on Friday; it will be said on Shabbos morning.
  • Any Chametz left over after the burning may eaten all day and through Shabbos morning, as long as one is extremely careful. 
  • Normal restrictions of Erev Pesach (e.g. laundry and haircutting) also do not apply on Friday. 

Shabbos - Erev Pesach
  • Although technically Chametz may be eaten through Shabbos morning, we are encouraged to eat Kosher-for-Pesach meals this Shabbos, cooked in Pesach pots or disposable pans. One should certainly not cook Chametz that will stick to the pot and be hard to remove; even a disposable pan with Chametz should be avoided. 
  • If eating Chametz, it is best to use something which does not make many crumbs (e.g. pita), served on paper towels or a disposable table cover; after making Hamotzi, eat the requisite amount of bread, and immediately dispose of the crumbs and the place settings. Carefully clean one's mouth with a napkin or dry toothbrush (no water or toothpaste on Shabbos), and rinse out one's mouth as well. One can then continue the meal at one's leisure after the table settings have been changed to Kosher for Pesach. Flush any remaining crumbs of Chametz down the toilet, and recite the second and final Kol Chamira (nullification of Chametz) before 11:44 am.  
  • Many rabbis recommend using Kosher-for-Pesach egg Matzah on this Shabbos. Ashkenazi practice is not to eat egg Matzah on Pesach, except in special circumstances. Therefore, one must still finish the egg Matzah by 10:30 and then change the table setting to Kosher for Pesach. However, since egg Matzah is not truly Chametz, it may be kept in one's home (as long as it is certified Kosher for Pesach), and there is no need to dispose of crumbs - a long as they are kept out of our Pesach food and Pesach dishes. (In this sense, they are treated roughly like Kitniyos - beans, rice and corn - which may also be kept in our homes although Ashkenazi practice is not to eat them on Pesach.) Additionally, please note that egg Matzah is Halachically the equivalent of cake, and therefore the Bracha on it would be Mezonos rather than Hamotzi. However, even cake can be subject to Hamotzi when used in place of bread. Although these guidelines are beyond the scope of this discussion, in this instance, where egg Matzah is used as the bread for our Shabbos meal, we can certainly make a Hamotzi. Flush any remaining crumbs of Chametz down the toilet, and recite the second and final Kol Chamira (nullification of Chametz) before 11:44 am.  
  • Seudah Shlishis, the Third Meal, should be eaten in the afternoon, and should consist of fruit or other non-Hamotzi foods. (Matzah may not be eaten until the Seder.)
Pesach
  • It is forbidden on Shabbos and Yom Tov to make preparations for the next day, even when no work is involved. Therefore, one may not do anything on Shabbos for the first day of Yom Tov, nor on the first day of Yom Tov for the second day of Yom Tov. One may begin preparations for the Seder at 8:13pm on Saturday night (and for the second Seder at 8:14 pm on Sunday night), after saying the words, “Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L’kodesh.” If one forgot to do so before Yom Tov, one may roast meat at this time (just enough for the first Seder), and grind ingredients for Charosses and Maror – provided it is done in an unusual manner (e.g. grind directly onto the table). 
  • Havdala is recited during Kiddush. To make the blessing on fire, hold two candles together –without letting the flames touch each other–and allow them to burn down naturally without extinguishing them. 
  • Required Amounts
    • Four cups - each cup should hold at least 3 fluid ounces. Preferably, the entire cup should be drunk; if not feasible, at least drink more than half the cup. It should be drunk quickly.
    • Matzah 
      • Hamotzi and Afikoman - a piece measuring 7 by 6 ½ inches
      • Korech - a piece measuring at least 7 by 4 inches.
        • The Matzah should be consumed within two minutes if feasible, but no longer than nine minutes.
      • Marror
        • If using Romaine lettuce leaves, enough leaves to cover an area of 8 by 10 inches (for both Marror and Korech). 
        • If using pure grated horseradish:
          • Maror 1.1 fluid oz.
          • Korech .7 fl. oz.
  • On the first day of Pesach (Sunday), we recite Tefillas Tal during Mussaf. This signals the end of the rainy season, and henceforth - beginning with Sunday afternoon Mincha - we no longer say Mashiv HaRuach UMorid Hagashem in the second blessing of Shemoneh Esrei, nor Vsen Tal UMatar in the ninth blessing of the weekday Shemoneh Esrei. If one inadvertently did so, Shemoneh Esrei is repeated.