PESACH RESOURCES – 5780 EDITION - WITH COVID-19 UPDATES
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Chaverim nichbadim - Dear friends:
Instead of re-writing my entire Pesach Resources page, I have added some new links and resources in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most important thing to remember: your health, and the health of your loved ones, friends, neighbors, and community, is more valuable than the laws concerning Pesach. We are permitted to be lenient regarding virtually any mitzvah when it comes to preserving life and health. This includes Pesach! There will be another Pesach! But there will never be another you! You do the best you can under the circumstances you face - period! God willing, perhaps we will have the opportunity to have in-person sedarim on Pesach Sheni, the Second Pesach for those unable to celebrate at the appointed time, in the evening of May 7, Iyar 14.
The Rabbinical Assembly is currently updating its Pesah Guide 5780. I don't know whether the link below will lead to the original guide only, or to the updated (COVID-19 relevant) version. Check back to this blog or to the RA website (http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org) for updates.
Other useful links:
When we may gather in groups:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/conservativemasorti-movement-statement-gatherings-and-communal-expectations-leadership
Some kashrut leniencies in light of the pandemic:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/kashrut-subcommittee-recommendations-passover-5780-light-covid-19
Recommendations for live-streaming the seder:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/streaming-seder
The above, and other useful resources, are available at:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/preparing-pesah-during-time-pandemic
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Chaverim nichbadim - Dear friends:
Instead of re-writing my entire Pesach Resources page, I have added some new links and resources in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most important thing to remember: your health, and the health of your loved ones, friends, neighbors, and community, is more valuable than the laws concerning Pesach. We are permitted to be lenient regarding virtually any mitzvah when it comes to preserving life and health. This includes Pesach! There will be another Pesach! But there will never be another you! You do the best you can under the circumstances you face - period! God willing, perhaps we will have the opportunity to have in-person sedarim on Pesach Sheni, the Second Pesach for those unable to celebrate at the appointed time, in the evening of May 7, Iyar 14.
The Rabbinical Assembly is currently updating its Pesah Guide 5780. I don't know whether the link below will lead to the original guide only, or to the updated (COVID-19 relevant) version. Check back to this blog or to the RA website (http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org) for updates.
Other useful links:
When we may gather in groups:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/conservativemasorti-movement-statement-gatherings-and-communal-expectations-leadership
Some kashrut leniencies in light of the pandemic:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/kashrut-subcommittee-recommendations-passover-5780-light-covid-19
Recommendations for live-streaming the seder:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/streaming-seder
The above, and other useful resources, are available at:
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/preparing-pesah-during-time-pandemic
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Chaverim nichbadim - Dear friends:
It’s almost time for Pesach! You know, the “Festival of
Freedom”, the holiday on which we celebrate our release from slavery to Pharaoh
in Egypt by abiding by the very strict dietary and ritual rules
created by the Rabbis and Jewish Tradition, including eating the hardtack
called matzah for eight days. Freedom, you say? God said, “Send forth My
people, so they may serve me.” That’s how it is typically translated. But the
Hebrew word for “so they may serve me”, “v’ya’avduni”, might easily be
translated as “so they will slave for Me”. The root for “serve”, “avad”, is
also the root for “eved” – “slave”. So, how do you manage Pesach in such a way
as to avoid complete slavery?
Here are some simple rules:
1. Accept that you are not perfect – and neither is anyone
else! You don’t have to do it all! You can’t do it all!
2. Prepare the house by cleaning and removing the
chametz. A short but very useful guide to kashering your kitchen and home and
identifying foods that are or are not kosher for Passover can be found at:
3. Prepare the food for the Seder.
4. Prepare the food for the remainder of the holiday
by shopping for it before Pesach.
5. Prepare yourself and your family spiritually.
6. Prepare yourself and your family intellectually.
7. Do not drive yourself or anyone else crazy – see
number rule #1.
8. Remember that Pesach really is about freedom; freedom
is fun; have fun! See rule #7.
9. Any questions? Ask a rabbi!
Are you looking for ways to make your Seder more
meaningful, more accessible, more involving for children, more interesting,
shorter, etc.? Then check out these resources on-line:
a. The Rabbinical Assembly’s Pesach Guide 5780 can
be read and downloaded at the following site:
b. Additional Pesach resources from the Rabbinical
Assembly may be found at:
c. Pesach kitchen kashering from a strictly Orthodox
perspective can be found at:
d. MyJewishLearning.com is, IMVHO, the best Jewish
educational resource on the web, and has material on virtually everything you
might ever want to know about Judaism, but don't know how or whom to ask. The
homepage is easily navigable. For Pesach, explore this page:
e. The Conservative Yeshiva, in Jerusalem, has a
number of text resources for study before the holiday and for discussion at the
Seder. See the many Passover links at:
f. Passover according to Chabad in a straightforward
manner. Follow the links on this page:
g. Especially good for beginners, National Jewish
Outreach Program’s extensive and accessible collection of how-to’s, background
materials and videos, from the folks who bring you Shabbat Across America (also
has Shabbat and other holiday resources):
h. My colleague Rabbi Gabriel Botnick has a short video
guide on shopping for Pesach, available at:
One of my seminary teachers suggested that, in addition
to whichever Haggadah of choice you use for your Seder, you should every year
acquire a new Haggadah with commentary and illustrations to help you prepare
and make your Seder more enjoyable. Ask your local Jewish bookseller, consult
with a rabbi, explore the web – there are beautiful and accessible Haggadot
available. Here are some of my favorites for getting ready:
1. Passover Haggadah – The Feast of Freedom. The
Rabbinical Assembly, 1982. Clear spiritual commentary.
2. A Passover Haggadah – Go Forth and Learn. Rabbi
David Silver. Jewish Publication Society, 2011. A new classic.
3. The Haggadah Treasury. Rabbi Nosson Scherman.
Artscroll, 1978. Midrash and traditional teachings.
4. From Bondage to Freedom – The Passover Haggadah.
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. Shaar Press, 1995. Tradition blended with
insights relating to addiction and dependency.
5. A Different Night – The Family Participation
Haggadah. Noam Zion and David Dishon. Shalom Hartman Institute, 1997. Difficult
to use at the seder, but lots of great ideas - especially in the leader's
guide.
6. Studies on the Haggadah from the Teachings of
Nechama Leibowitz. Urim Publications, 2002. Deep Torah from a great scholar.
7. The Hirsch Haggadah. Samson Raphael Hirsch.
Feldheim Publishers, 1993. The 19th century voice of Orthodoxy.
8. A Feast of History. Chaim Raphael. Steimatzky’s,
1972. (Out of print but available used) The lengthy historical essay is
interesting and useful.
9. The Origins of the Seder. Baruch Bokser. JTS
Press, 2002 (Paperback edition). Not a Haggadah, but for those interested in an
academic treatise that opens the eyes to history.
10. Passover – The Family Guide to Spiritual
Celebration. Dr. Ron Wolfson. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2010 (2d edition) A
straight-forward how-to guide with explanations and insights for the table.
Some other important reminders about Pesach and the
lead-up to the holy days:
1. All first-borns (except Levi’im and Kohanim) are
obliged to engage in a fast, called Ta’anit B’chorot, from pre-dawn until
the seder on the 14th of Nisan, this year on Wednesday, April 8, in recognition
of the 10th plague. To avoid the fast, the custom has become for the firstborn
to engage in Torah study and then have a festive "meal" (a siyyum) at
the completion of their study. I will be hosting Torah study and siyyum (complete
with the last chametz you will eat until the end of Pesach) on Wednesday, April
8, at 8:30 am, streaming at https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim/ and via Zoom - Zoom details will be given to those who contact me via e-mail
to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net by Tuesday evening, April 7.
2. Sadly, TBH/CBM is NOT holding its Community Second Seder this year. However, we are trying to develop a plan for streaming a second seder on
Thursday, April 9. Watch this space or our Facebook page.
3. DON’T FORGET TO REMOVE AND SELL CHAMETZ – AUTHORIZE RABBI FLOM TO DO SO ON YOUR BEHALF NO LATER THAN 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 8.
3. DON’T FORGET TO REMOVE AND SELL CHAMETZ – AUTHORIZE RABBI FLOM TO DO SO ON YOUR BEHALF NO LATER THAN 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 8.
A downloadable, fillable authorization form which you can
email to me is available here:
4. Kitniyot (beans, rice, corn) on Pesach? Yes! ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR WHEN SUPPLIES AND SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES MAY BE LIMITED! Read
the latest from the Rabbinical Assembly at:
I guess it's time to start thinking about Pesach!
Wishing you a Chag Pesach Sameach, Kasher U’Mashma’uti –
A Passover that is Happy, Kosher and Meaningful!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
