Erev Pesach Primer 5784/2024

Download or print this guide here

THE NIGHT OF EREV PESACH - SUNDAY NIGHT, APRIL 21

Bedikat Chametz / The Search for Chametz - On the eve of the fourteenth of Nissan i.e. after 8:34 PM, one is required to search their home and domains for all Chametz. Read more about this HERE. The blessing and post-search nullification can be found HERE.

EREV PESACH DAY - MONDAY, APRIL 22

Taanit Bechorot / Fast of the Firstborns - It is a widespread custom for firstborns to fast on the day before Pesach. This commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn Jewish sons from the final plague. As is customary, we will have a Siyum (with bagels, lox, and cream cheese) after 7:00 AM Shacharit. This enables the firstborns present to continue to eat for the rest of the day. Read more about this HERE.

Mechirat Chametz / Chametz Sale - Make sure to submit your Chametz Sale Form by 8:00 AM, these can be found HERE. The Rabbi will sell your Chametz to a non-Jew in his office at 10:00 AM. You are invited to come and watch the sale!

Sof Zman Achilat Chametz / Chametz-Eating Deadline: 10:37 AM - The absolute deadline for eating chametz is two Halachic hours before midday. We should also brush our teeth before this time. Read more about this HERE.

Sof Zman Biur Chametz / Chametz-Owning Chametz: 11:57 AM - On the morning before Pesach, before the fifth Halachic hour, we burn (or destroy) all the chametz that was found during the search and anything that was left over from breakfast and not sold to the non-Jew. This is the time when the prohibition to own Chametz comes into effect. Read more about this HERE. Come join us as we burn our Chametz in the Dor Tikvah Parking lot at 11:00 AM! The post-burn nullification can be found HERE.

Additionally, we have scheduled a special garbage collection for Erev Pesach at Dor Tikvah. Dispose of your remaining Chametz in our big blue dumpster before 11:00 AM. This will ensure that you don't have any unsold Chametz on your property after 11:57 AM, when owning Chametz becomes prohibited. We are grateful to Dining In for helping with this.

Issur Melacha / Forbidden Work - Various categories of work are forbidden on Erev Pesach after Halachic midday at 1:19 PM. These include haircuts, shaving, and laundry. Read more about this HERE.