Pesach
2023 - 5783
6th April - 13rd April
First Seder Night 5th April
Pesach preparations always bring with it a sense of excitement. Many people's earliest and most memorable childhood memories are around the Seder table, listening to their father or Zaida lead the service, trying not to spill the wine or just waiting for Elijah to make his grand appearance! Whatever it might be, Pesach is something special for everyone.
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Please find below a brief intro to Pesach, especially the guidelines for this year as Erev Pesach falls on Shabbat. For a thorough overview, and to find out everything you have ever wanted to know about Pesach, visit Chabad's wold famous Pesach site:
CHABAD.ORG/PASSOVER
If you haven't yet done so, please make sure to click here to sell your Chametz. This is a vital part of Pesach observance.
Preparing for Pesach
Without doubt, Pesach is the one festival on the Jewish calendar that requires the most amount of preparation. We simply cannot just show up on the night of Pesach and expect to find it waiting for us.
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Much of the preparation will be taken up with cleaning the house and any other properties we may own including cars, work areas, and clothing. Many of the areas in our houses will contain Chametz which is strictly forbidden according to the Torah to the extent that we may not even own it over Pesach. We must also ensure that other areas are free of Chametz too, including checking pockets in clothing, and school bags.
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CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT PREPARING FOR PESACH.
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Candle Lighting Times
For the London/Watford area only. Click here for other locations.
Wednesday 5th April 7:21pm
Thursday 6th April 8:33pm
Friday 7th April 7:25pm
Shabbat and first days conclude 8:36pm
Tuesday 11th April 7:31pm
Wednesday 12th April 8:44pm
Yom tov concludes 8:46pm
Seder
Preparation for the Seder Night is vital. At the Seder, every person should feel as if he or she were going out of Egypt. We begin with the story of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and recount the Jewish people’s descent into Egypt, recalling their suffering and persecution.
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Click here to download a beautifully designed Hagaddah from Chabad.org.
We are with them as G‑d sends the Ten Plagues to punish Pharaoh and his nation, and follow along as they leave Egypt and cross the Red Sea. We witness the miraculous hand of G‑d as the waters part, allowing the Jewish people to pass, then return to inundate the Egyptian legions.
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As we eat bitter foods of affliction and poverty, the Exodus becomes a reality, as real as the festive meal and celebratory toasts that follow.
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The Seder Plate
The Seder plate is the focal point of the proceedings on the first (two) night(s) of Pesach. Whether it is an ornate silver dish or a plastic plate, it bears the ceremonial foods around which the Seder is based. Here is the order: Matzah, the Zeroa (shankbone), Egg, Bitter Herbs, Charoset, and the Karpas vegetable.
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CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE SEDER PLATE.
Wednesday 5th April
Last time for eating Chametz 10:49am
Last time to dispose of Chametz 11:56am
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