Laws & Customs for Pesach
5786-2026

 

     PRE-PESACH EVENTS  

  • Tuesday, March 31st -   Bedikat Chametz 

  • We check for any last bits of Chametz around the house on Tuesday evening, March 31. The checking is done with a feather, wooden spoon and a candle. Care should be taken to check the entire house, not merely to pick up the traditional ten pieces of bread. The first Kol Chamirah (printed in most Haggadahs) is said after Bedikat Chametz. It states that any unknown Chametz is null and void. Saying this Kol Chamirah is a key part of the Mitzvah of Biur (getting rid of) Chametz. Any remaining Chametz that will be eaten on Friday and Shabbat morning should be placed in a secure place where one be reminded not to spread Chametz around the house. The bedikah/search is done after nightfall, at 7:48 PM. 

  • NOTE:  By this evening chametz must be sold. You can do so online here: www.ChabadYP.com/Chametz 
     
  • Wednesday April 1st
  •  The last time to eat Chametz is Wednesday morning, April 1, 10:51 AM.
  • Biur Chometz – Burning the Chametz :  The chametz that was found during Bedikat Chametz should be burned Wednesday, April 1 before 11:55 AM. It should be noted that only the small ten pieces that were found during the bedikah need to be burned. All other chametz can be put away and sold.

  • Kol Chamirah - nullifying the chametz. After burning the Chametz the second Kol Chamirah (printed in most Haggadahs) which declares that all Chametz – whether known or unknown - to be null, void and ownerless is recited.

  • Immediately following the burning, all chametz food should be put away in cabinets. The cabinets must be sealed. Similarly, all chametz utensils should be put away at this time. All items in these cabinets will be sold to the non-Jew by the rabbi.

 

  • PRE-PESACH AND PRE SEDER PREPARATIONS
  • We should make every effort to ensure that our families and friends have handmade Shmurah Matzah for (at least) the seder nights. 
  • Roast the shankbone (depending on your custom, this can be a chicken neck or wing) 
  • Grind the apples and other ingredients for the charoset

 

  • More about Shabbat Hagadol – March 28

  • On the Shabbat preceding the Exodus, the Jews tied lambs to their beds in preparation for the Passover sacrifice. When the Egyptians asked about this, they were told that G‑d would bring about the final plague of the firstborn. The Egyptian firstborn panicked and, fearing for their lives, asked Pharaoh to finally let the Jews go. When Pharaoh refused, a civil war broke out between Pharaoh and the firstborns, causing many Egyptians to die even before the final plague struck. On the Shabbat preceding Passover, we celebrate this miracle.

  • It is a widespread custom among Jews to read the bulk of the Haggadah on the afternoon of Shabbat HaGadol. We start from Avadim Hayinu, right after Ma Nishtana, and read until Lechaper Al Kol Avonoteinu, at the end of Dayeinu and Al Achat Kamah VeChamah.


    THE SEDERS

  • One must be careful not to start the Seder until after nightfall. Nightfall on the first Seder night, Saturday night April 1 is at 7:49 PM. Nightfall on the second Seder night, Thursday, April 2 is 7:49 PM.

  • In addition, until nightfall no preparations can be made for the Seder. These include warming up food (from a pre-existing flame), setting the table and lighting the Yom Tov candles (from a pre-existing).