Congregation Beth Shalom • 3433 Walters Avenue • Northbrook, IL 60062-3298 • 847-498-4100 • Fax 847-498-9160 • www.BethShalomNB.org

PASSOVER SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

2016- 5776 SCHEDULE

PASSOVER AND ITS OBSERVANCE Passover, the Festival of Freedom, born of the liberation from Egyptian bondage, has left an indelible impression on Jewish memory. Apart from its observance in the synagogue, Pesach has a unique place in the Jewish home because of the Seder and because of the changed atmosphere in the home during the Passover week. Passover is both the most challenging and the most rewarding of festivals for the household. When the Jewish people left the land of Egypt, they did not have the time to let their bread rise. Instead, they ate Matzah, unleavened bread. Therefore, in commemoration, we separate ourselves from all leavened products during this eight day Festival. The Seder is an experience shared by the entire family, both as a celebration and a learning experience. It is a beautiful night greatly enhanced by the special foods served. It is on this night that all the artistry of Jewish cuisine comes to the fore. Use the Passover insert as your guide.

Friday, April 22

First Night Passover

Morning Minyan with Siyum for First-Born. . . . 6:45 AM You can eat chametz until . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:33 AM You can sell and burn chametz until . . . . . . 11:41 AM Mincha/Ma’ariv - To Welcome Shabbat and the Festival . 6:00 PM

Saturday, April 23

1st Day Passover

Shabbat/Festival Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 AM Mincha Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:45 PM

Sunday, April 24

2nd Day Passover

Festival Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 AM Mincha/Ma’ariv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM

Monday, April 25

3rd Day Passover

Morning Minyan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:45 AM Ma’ariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:45 PM

Tuesday, April 26

4th Day Passover

Morning Minyan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:45 AM Ma’ariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:45 PM

Wednesday, April 27 5th Day Passover

Morning Minyan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:45 AM Ma’ariv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:45 PM

Thursday, April 28

6th Day Passover

Morning Minyan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:45 AM Service to Welcome the Festival . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM

Friday, April 29

7th Day Passover

Festival Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 AM Mincha and Shabbat/Festival Ma'ariv . . . . . . . 6:45 PM

Saturday, April 30

8th Day Passover

Shabbat/Festival Service/Yizkor . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 AM Mincha Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:45 PM

PLEASE DO NOT EAT CHAMETZ BEFORE 8:36 PM ON SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016 If you have room at your Seder table for a guest or two, or if you are in need of a Seder to attend, please call the Synagogue office and we will try to help!

BEDIKAT HAMETZ: THE SEARCH FOR LEAVEN Before Passover, our homes are cleaned very thoroughly. On the evening before the first night of Passover, Thursday, April 21st, we search our homes for any signs of leavened items. Because our homes have been cleaned so well, traces of leaven, such as a few crumbs of bread, are placed in the corners of our homes and we search them out. A candle is lit to use as a searchlight and the children lead the parents through the house for the search. All particles of leaven are placed in a paper bag, so that they may be burned on Friday morning, April 22nd until 11:41 AM.

We recite the following blessing before we begin our search: BARUCH ATA ADONAI, ELOHEINU MELECH HA’OLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU BE’MITZVOTAV, VE’TZIVANU AL BIYUR CHAMETZ (..... AND COMMANDED US TO REMOVE ALL LEAVENED GOODS.) After our search we recite the following: KOL CHAMIRAH VECHAMI’AH, DE’EEKAH VIRSHUTI, DE’LA CHAMI’TEI, UD’LAH VE’ARITEI, UD’LAH YADANA LEI, LIB’TEIL VE’LEHEVEI HEFKER, KE’AFRAH DE’AR’AH. ALL LEAVEN IN MY POSSESSION WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN OR REMOVED OR OF WHICH I AM UNAWARE IS HEREBY NULLIFIED AND OWNERLESS AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH.

BIYUR CHAMETZ: BURNING THE LEAVEN After completing the search, the crumbs, together with the receptacle used to collect them, are put away in a safe place until the following morning when they are burned in a ceremony called BIYUR CHAMETZ, the burning of the leaven. After the burning, the following prayer is recited. THIS SHOULD BE DONE ON FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 22nd. KOL CHAMIRAH VECHAMI’AH, DE’EEKAH VIRSHUTI, DE’CHAZITEI UD’LAH CHA’ZITEI DE’CHAMITEI, UD’LAH CHA’MITEI, DE’ARITEI UD’LAH VA’ARITEI, LIB’TEIL VE’LEHEVEI HEFKER, KE’AFRAH DE’AR’AH ANY KIND OF LEAVEN THAT IS IN MY POSSESSION WHETHER I HAVE SEEN IT OR NOT, WHETHER I HAVE REMOVED IT OR NOT, IS HEREBY NULLIFIED AND OWNERLESS AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH. (The text for Bedikat and Biyur Chametz is available in most Haggadot)

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There’s No Seder Like Our Seder (sung to the tune of "There's no Business like Show business") There’s no seder like our seder, There’s no seder I know. Everything about it is Halachic nothing that the Torah won't allow. Listen how we read the whole Haggadah It’s all in Hebrew ‘Cause we know how. There’s no Seder like our seder, We tell a tale that is swell: Moses took the people out into the heat They baked the matzoh While on their feet Now isn't that a story That just can't be beat? Let's go on with the show!

FAST OF THE FIRST BORN FRIDAY MORNING APRIL 22nd, 6:45AM Because the first born of the Israelites were saved from the tenth plague, tradition requires all firstborn Jewish males to fast on Erev Pesach until the Seder (This fast is called Ta’anit Bechorim). However, the Law states that if a first-born hears the completion of a tractate of the Talmud, a siyum, he is no longer responsible to fast. Therefore, on the morning of the first Seder, a special service is held for all first-born sons, at which they hear the completion of a tractate of the Talmud and are thus no longer responsible to fast on that day. As this is the season when we single out our first-born sons, it is very appropriate that all our firstborn be represented. The service is, of course, not limited to the first-born sons alone. All are welcome.

Special Note: If you have room at your Seder table for a guest or two, or if you are in need of a Seder to attend, please call the Synagogue office and we will try to help!

HOUSEHOLD PREPARATIONS

MECHIRAT CHAMETZ SELLING THE CHAMETZ Since we may not possess any leavened food after the burning of Chametz by the morning before the Seder, we must give up ownership of this food. It is impossible to destroy all of the Chametz in one’s possession. Therefore, rabbinic authorities used a legal fiction embodying a special sale called Mechirat Chametz which is arranged through the clergy. Since the Chametz is sold to a non-Jew, it does not belong to a Jew during Passover. All material to be sold is isolated from the food and utensils used on Passover. Pets and other animals should also be sold (although they remain in the house as usual) since most animal food contains Chametz. The rabbi arranges for all material sold to be sold back immediately after Passover. The procedure may be arranged by filling out the coupon on the last page and sending it to the synagogue at any time before or during the week preceding Passover, but not later than Friday morning, April 22nd. If you would like to follow the tradition of arranging the sale personally through Rabbi Melman, Rabbi Averbach or Cantor Stoehr, they will be glad to assist you.

Take Me Out To The Seder (To the tune of, of course, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame!”) Take me out to the Seder Take me out with the crowd. Feed me on matzoh and chicken legs, I don't care for the hard-boiled eggs. And its root, root, root for Elijah That he will soon reappear. And let's hope, hope, hope that we'll meet Once again next year! Take me out to the Seder Take me out with the crowd. Read the Haggadah And don't skip a word. Please hold your talking, We want to be heard. And lets, root, root, root for the leader That he will finish his spiel So we can nosh, nosh, nosh and by-gosh Let's eat the meal!!!

PASSOVER 2016

RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY

RKEFUY[EI

3080 Broadway | New York, NY 10027 | phone 212.280.6000 | fax 212.749.9166 | info [email protected] | rabbinicalassembly .org

THE RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY M

PESAH GUIDE 1ž«²³ The Committee on Jewish Law & Standards (CJLS) Kashrut Subcommittee2 Introduction by Rabbi Elliot N. Dorfff, Chair, CJLS

S

tories play a key role in identifying a religion or nation, espec p ially the ones at the center off a FRPPXQLW\·VKLVWRU\DQGULWXDOWKHRQHVWDXJKW to membeers of the community from an early age and repeated often by adults in rituals and prayers. Succh master stories express in easily XQGHUVWDQGDEOHDQGHPRWLRQDOO\FRPSHOOLQJWHUPVDFRPPXQLW\·V understanding of its origins, its values, and its goals. If one were to compare the view of liffe andd humanity embedded in the master stories of, forr example, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism ² and the United States, China, and Israel ² one would find deep difffeerences in how these various huuman communities understand who they are as individuals and as a community, what is important in n life, and what they should strriive for. -XGDLVP·VPDVWHUVWRU\LVWKH([RGXVIURP(J\SWIROORZHGE\WKHWUHNWR0RXQt Sinai and then to the Promised Land off Israel. We leave Egyypt not as individuals b but as a nation, and we do so only with the help of God. This is very difffeerent from the staunch in ndividualism att the heartt of the liberalism that has forrgged most Western countries. At Mount Sin nai we engage in a Covenant with God that establishes the basis of our relationship with God ² and the duties of that relationship ² forr ourselves and all our descendants.

We reenact the Exodus through story, discussion, and song at the Seder ta tabl ble.

This perception off ourselves, our links to one another and to God, and our mission in life infuses much of our liturrggy and maany of our holidays, but it is Passover that fo ocuses on this story most graphically. $VWKH+DJJDGDKVD\V´,QHYHU\JHQHUDWLRQZHHDFK PXVWVHHRXUVHOYHVDVLIZHSHUVRQDOO\OHIW(J\SWµ To enable us to identiffy with that storry once again, we reenact the Exodus throuugh story, discussion, and song at the Seder table, and we restrict ourr diet to remind ourselves of o the slavery of Egypt and the need to redeem ourselves and others aga g in and again. The Hebrew w word forr Egypt, Mitz i rayimPHDQV´VWUDLWVµSUREDEO\EHFDXVHWKH1LOHHQWHUVWKH0HGLWHUUDQHDQQRWDVRQH river butt through multiple straits. Jewish interpreters, however, ha h ve understand the word metaphorically as well, teaching us that in every generation we mus m t seek to redeem ourselve v s and others from the straits of life ² poverttyy, ignorance, prejudice, illness, meaningglessness, etc. That is our Jewish mission forr life, the charge that God has given us and that the Passover storry arrttiiculates forr us anew each and everry year. This Guide, prepared by the Kashrutt Subcommittee and approved by the Committee on Jeew wiish Law and Standards, explains in detail the laws and customs regarding the dietary restrriictions of Passover, the rules that remind us HDFKWLPHZHHDWRI3DVVRYHU·VPHVVDJHVIRUXV Some of these guiddelines

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are, frankly, quite technical and even complicated; that is the result of the special stringency of the Passover rules in Jewish law and the complex, new ways in which foods are processed in our time. We hope that this Guide will enable Jews to understand what they may eat on Passover and how to prepare their kitchens for the holiday in ways that are clear and understandable. We do not intend WKLV*XLGHWRUHSODFH\RXUUDEEL·VJXLGDQce on these matters; on the contrary, any question you have about what is written here or what is missing you should address to your rabbi.

We restrict our diet to remind ourselves of the slavery of Egypt.

One last, but important, comment. Because Passover involves more dietary strictures than the rest of the year, many Jews become downright compulsive about the rules of the holiday. We should be careful not to use these rules to assert our superior piety over others, and remember that observance of Passover should not come at the expense of the values of honoring our parents and treating everyone with respect. Passover is really important ² a central feature of what it means to live a Jewish life. Its very meaning, though, is completely undermined if the dietary rules of Passover lead people to treat each other with disrespect. So as we explain the dietary rules of Passover below, we fervently hope that they will instead function as they are supposed to ² namely, to serve as graphic reminders throughout the holiday of the critical lessons of Passover, of the need to free ourselves and the world around us of all the physical, intellectual, emotional, and communal straits that limit us and others in living a life befitting of people created in the image of God. May we all succeed in making this and every Passover the stimulus for us to fix the world in these ways every day of our lives.

Updated February 2016. This Pesah Guide was approved by the CJLS on January 10, 2012 by a vote of fourteen in favor (14-0-0). Those voting in favor were: Rabbis Aaron Alexander, David Booth, Miriam Berkowitz, Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Susan Grossman, Reuven Hammer, Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Gail Labovitz, Jonathan Lubliner, Daniel Nevins, Paul Plotkin, Avram Reisner, Jay Stein and Loel Weiss.

Pesah is the Jewish festival which requires the most preparatory effort and is the most complex. Yet Jews are committed to doing their best to observe the laws of Pesah. This Rabbinical Assembly Pesah guide is a brief outline of the policies and procedures relevant to the preparation of a kosher for Pesah home. Please contact your local Conservative rabbi or local religious authority if you have any questions.3 With significant changes in the nature and manufacture of kitchen products and food stuffs, new policies are required to maintain a kosher for Pesah kitchen. There are also many significant differences of opinion amongst rabbis regarding the laws of Pesah. We cannot present all of the various approaches. This guide is intended to help families maintain a kosher for Pesah home in accordance with the principles of Conservative Judaism and its understanding of Jewish Law.

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PASSOVER 2016

KASHERING

THE

KITCHEN

It is customary (and easiest) to remove the utensils and dishes that are used during the year, replacing them with either new utensils or utensils used year to year only for Pesah. This is clearly not possible for major appliances and may not even be possible for dishes and utensils. There is a process for kashering many, but not all, kitchen items thus making them kosher for Pesah: The general principle used in kashering is that the way the utensil absorbs food is the way it can be purged of that food, ž¡¥ž­£¤ž«¥žš¤ (Ke-volo NDFKSRO·WR . This principle operates on the basis of the quality or intensity of how the items absorb food. Things used for cold food can be kashered by rinsing since no substance has been absorbed by the dish or glass. Items used on a stove absorb the food and thus need a stronger level of action namely expelling the food into boiling water, called ¥«› KDJ·DODK . The most intense form of usage is directly on a fire or in an oven and these utensils require the most intense method of kashering, namely ¨žš¢¥ (libbun), which burns away absorbed food.

Kashering Specific Appliances and Utensils METALS To kasher pots, silverware, and utensils wholly of metal not used for baking, thoroughly clean the item with soap and water, then, following a strict 24 hour waiting period during which they are not used, immerse the item in water that is at a rolling boil (¥«› ² KDJ·DODK). For pots and pans, clean handles thoroughly. If the handle can be removed, do so for an even more thorough cleaning. To effect ¥«› (KDJ·DODK), the item must be completely exposed to the boiling water. Pots and pans are either immersed in a larger pot of boiling water (may be done one section at a time) or filled with water brought to a rolling boil and then a heated stone is dropped into the pot such that the boiling water overflows to cover the sides of the pot. A safer alternative might be let the water boil over the sides of the pot. In the case of silverware every part of each piece must be exposed to the water at a rolling boil. Following this ¥«› (KDJ·DODK) process, each utensil is rinsed in cold water. Metal bakeware used in a fire or in an oven must first be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned and then must be subjected to direct fire or an oven at its maximum setting. Thus using a blow torch or putting it in an oven during self-cleaning are two ways to accomplish this purging (¨žš¢¥ ² libbun). This is a complicated and a potentially dangerous procedure and may result in discoloration or warping of the metal being purged. Exercise caution when performing ¨žš¢¥ (libbun). Metal baking pans and sheets require ¨žš¢¥ (libbun) at very high temperatures which may warp the vessel. This may result in a reluctance to submit the vessel to the required temperature.4 A metal kitchen sink can be kashered by thoroughly cleaning and scrubbing the sink (especially the garbage catch), letting 24 hours pass during which only cold water is used, and then carefully pouring boiling water

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over all the surfaces of the sink starting with the bottom first and working up towards the top including the lip.5 A porcelain sink cannot be kashered, but should be thoroughly cleaned, then Pesah dish basins and dish racks must be used, one each for dairy and meat.

GLASS Glass dishes used for eating and serving hot foods are to be treated like any dish used for eating and serving hot food. Kashering is effected by cleaning and immersing in boiling water (¥«› KDJ·DODK).6 Glass cookware is treated like a metal pot for kashering (see paragraph on metal, above). The issues regarding glass bakeware are complex. Some authorities allow it to be kashered and others do not.7 Drinking glasses or glass dishes used only for cold foods may be kashered by a simple rinsing. Some follow the custom of soaking them for three days.8

PLASTICS Heavy duty plastics including dishes, cutlery or serving items, providing they can withstand very hot water and do not permanently stain, may be kashered by ¥«› (KDJ·DODK). If there is some doubt as to whether particular items can be kashered, consult your rabbi. 9

CERAMIC DISHES Ceramic dishes (earthenware, stoneware, china, pottery, etc) cannot be kashered. However fine china that was put away clean and that has not been used for over one Jewish calendar year may be used after thorough detergent and hot water washing. The china is then considered pareve and may be designated for meat or dairy use.

COOKING APPLIANCES For ovens and ranges, every part that comes in contact with food must be thoroughly cleaned. This includes the walls and the top and bottom of the oven. Then the oven or range should be heated as hot as possible. The oven should be heated at maximum heat for an hour; the range top until the elements turn red and glow. Then parts of the range top around the elements that can be covered should be covered, (usually with aluminum foil). After a general and careful cleaning, self cleaning ovens are put through the full cleaning cycle while empty.10 Following this process, the oven should be again cleaned to remove any ash. If the oven was very dirty to start, two cycles may be needed to assure a thorough cleaning. Smooth, glass top electric ranges require kashering by ¨žš¢¥ (libbun) and ¢ž±« (iruy ² pouring boiling water over the surface of the range top). First, clean the top thoroughly, then turn the coils on maximum heat until

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they are red hot. Then carefully pour boiling water on the surface area over and around the burners. The range top may now be used for cooking. Microwave ovens that have no convection option should be thoroughly cleaned. Then an 8 ounce cup of water is placed inside and the oven is turned on until the water almost disappears (at least 6 of the 8 ounces is gone). Heating to complete dryness may damage the oven. A microwave oven that has a browning element cannot be kashered. Convection ovens are kashered like regular ovens. Make sure that during the cleaning phase you clean thoroughly around the fan. ADDITIONAL KITCHEN APPLIANCES A dishwasher needs to be cleaned as thoroughly as possible including the inside area around the drainage and filters. Then a full cycle with detergent (with racks in) should be run while the dishwasher is empty. After 24 hours of not being used the dishwasher is again run empty (with racks in) and set on the highest heat for the purpose of kashering. If the sides of the dishwasher are made of enamel or porcelain, the dishwasher cannot be kashered for Pesah.11 Other electrical appliances can be kashered if the parts that come in contact with ®§  (hameitz) are metal and are removable, in which case they may be kashered like all other metal cooking utensils. If the parts are not removable, the appliances cannot be kashered. We recommend whenever possible that small appliances be used that are strictly for Pesah, thus avoiding the difficulty of kashering these appliances. WORK SURFACES Tables, closets, and counters should be thoroughly cleaned and covered for Pesah. The coverings can be contact paper, regular paper, foil or cloth that does not contain ®§  (hameitz) (e.g. been starched with hameitz starch). Note that the covering material should be made of material that is not easily torn. Many counter top surfaces can be kashered simply by a thorough cleaning, a 24 hour wait and ¢ž±« (iruy ² pouring boiling water over them). To have ¢ž±« (iruy) be effective for kashering, the surface must have no hairline cracks, nicks or scratches that can be seen with the naked eye. x x x

Plastic laminates, limestone, soapstone, granite, marble, glass, Corian, Staron, Ceasarstone, Swanstone, Surell and Avonite surfaces can be kashered by ¢ž±« (iruy). Wood without scratches is also kashered by ¢ž±« (iruy). Ceramic, cement or porcelain counter tops cannot be kashered by ¢ž±« (iruy).

The potential effectiveness of ¢ž±« (iruy) depends on the material of which the counter was made. A full list of counter materials that can be kashered (according to their decisors) may be found on the website of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC). 12 Refrigerators and freezers should be thoroughly cleaned with detergent. If there are places where food can be stuck (e.g. cracks or difficult corners to reach), these areas should be covered.

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FOODS The Torah prohibits the ownership of ®§  (hameitz) (flour, food or drink made from the prohibited species of leavened grain: wheat, oats, barley, rye or spelt) during Pesah.13 Ideally we burn or remove all ®§  (hameitz) from our premises which may be effected by donations to a local food pantry. In some cases, however, this would cause prohibitive financial loss. In such cases, we arrange for the sale of the ®§  (hameitz) to a non-Jew and its repurchase after Pesah: ®§ ³±¢¤§ (mekhirat hameitz ² the sale of hameitz) is accomplished by appointing DQDJHQWXVXDOO\RQH·VUDEELWRKDQGOHWKHVDOH7KLVPXVWEHFRQVLGHUHGDYDOLGDQGOHJDO transfer of ownership and thus the items sold must be separated and stored away from all other foods and supplies. This means that non-Passover dishes, pots, utensils and ®§  (hameitz) IRRGWKDWKDYHEHHQVROGDVSDUWRIWKHVHOOLQJRIRQH·V®§  (hameitz) should be separated, covered or locked away to prevent accidental use. At the end of the holiday, the agent arranges to repurchase the items on behalf of the owner, since the ®§  (hameitz) at that time is again permitted. One must wait until one is sure the repurchase has been done. If ownership of the ®§  (hameitz) was not transferred before the holiday, the use of any such ®§  (hameitz) remains prohibited after the holiday ( ª­ž¢¥«±š«²®§  ² hameitz she-avar alav ha-Pesah) and any such products should be given away to a non-Jewish food pantry.

Prohibited foods Since the Torah prohibits the eating of ®§  (hameitz) during Pesah, and since many common foods contain some ®§  (hameitz), guidance is necessary when shopping and preparing for Pesah. Prohibited foods (®§  ² hameitz) include the following: x x x

biscuits cakes coffees containing cereal derivatives

x x x

crackers leavened bread pasta

These are foods that are generally made with wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye (grains that can become ®§  (hameitz)). Any food containing these grains or derivatives of these grains must be certified kosher for Pesah. Flavorings in foodstuffs are often derived from alcohol produced from one of these grains which would render that food ®§  (hameitz). Such products also need Pesah supervision.

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³ž¢©¡° ʹ Kitniyot Until this year, the CJLS position on kitniyot (for Ashkenazim) has followed that of the longstanding Ashkenazi minhag of refraining from eating them. These foods included: beans, corn, millet, peas, rice, soy, and some other plant based foods like mustard, buckwheat and sesame seeds. The one exception was an approved permission of peanuts and peanut oil, provided said items have proper year-round kosher certification and do not contain hameitz ingredients. 14 In the fall of 2015 the CJLS passed two responsa which permit the consumption of kitniyot for Ashkenazim. To fully understand their positions, which differ in their argumentation, please see: x David Golinkin, "Rice, beans and kitniyot on Pesah - are they really forbidden?" OH 453:1.2015a x Amy Levin and Avram Israel Reisner, "A Teshuvah Permitting Ashkenzaim to Eat Kitniyot on Pesah" 453:1.2015b This permission does not come without a few caveats that do appear in the body of the papers. The first is that the CJLS affirms that this new position does not constitute an instruction to consume kitniyot during Pesah, but rather a halakhic basis and guideline for those who choose to do so. We recognize that while some individuals, communities, and institutions will utilize this new ruling, others may choose not to do so. Both are equally legitimate and derekh eretz should be the guiding value with which we hold our communal and interpersonal conversations around this topic. We encourage all decision-making parties to be transparent in their policies and menus, as well as sensitive to the spiritual and dietary needs of others. For those who do avail themselves of this ruling, it is important to note the following specific guidance, cited in the S·VDNKDODNKDK of the responsum by Rabbis Amy Levin and Avram Reisner: 1) Fresh corn on the cob and fresh beans (like lima beans in their pods) may be purchased before and during Pesah, that is, treated like any other fresh vegetable. 2) Dried kitniyot (legumes, rice and corn) can be purchased bagged or in boxes and then sifted or sorted before Pesah. These should ideally not be purchased in bulk from bins because of the concern that the bin might previously have been used for hameitz, and a few grains of hameitz might be mixed in. In any case, one should inspect these before Pesah and discard any pieces of hameitz. If one did not inspect the rice or dried beans before Pesah, one should remove pieces of hameitz found in the package on Pesah, discarding those, and the kitniyot themselves remain permissible. 3) Kitniyot in cans may only be purchased with Pesah certification since the canning process has certain related hameitz concerns, and may be purchased on Pesah. 4) Frozen raw kitniyot (corn, edamame [soy beans], etc.): One may purchase bags of frozen nonhekhshered kitniyot before Pesah provided that one can either absolutely determine that no shared equipment was used or one is careful to inspect the contents before Pesah and discard any pieces of ®§  hameitz). Even if one did not inspect the vegetables before Pesah, if one can remove pieces of (hameitz) found in the package on Pesah, the vegetables themselves are permissible. 5) Processed foods, including tofu, although containing no listed hameitz, continue to require Pesah certification due to the possibility of admixtures of hameitz during production.

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6) Even those who continue to observe the Ashkenazic custom of eschewing kitniyot during Pesah may eat from Pesah dishes, utensils and cooking vessels that have come into contact with kitniyot ³ž¢©¡°¢§ may consume kitniyot derivatives like oil that have a KP hekhsher.

Permitted Foods An item that is kosher all year round, that is made with no ®§  (hameitz), and is processed on machines used only for that item and nothing else (such as ground coffee) may be used with no special Pesah supervision. As we learn more about the processing of foods and the ingredients they contain, relying on the kashrut of a product for Pesah without a Passover ±²¤ (hekhsher) may be problematic.15 Wherever possible, processed foods ought to have a ´ ª­¥±²¤µ´NDVKHUO·3HVDKµ ±²¤ (hekhsher) from a reliable source. Since that is not always possible, however, our guidelines reflect some alternatives that are acceptable. Any food that you purchase with a ´ ª­¥±²¤µ´NDVKHUO·3HVDKµ ±²¤ (hekhsher) must have a label that is integral to the package and it should have the name of a recognizable, living supervising Rabbi or creditable kosher supervision agency if possible. If the label is not integral to the package or if there are questions regarding the labeling, the item should not be used without consulting a Rabbi.

NO PESAH HEKHSHER REQUIRED Products which may be purchased without a Pesah ±²¤ (hekhsher) before or during Pesah: x x x x x x

baking soda bicarbonate of soda eggs fresh fruits and vegetables fresh or frozen kosher meat (other than chopped meat) Nestea (regular and decaffeinated)

x x x x x x x

pure black, green, or white tea leaves unflavored tea bags unflavored regular coffee olive oil (extra-virgin only) whole or gutted fresh fish whole or half pecans (not pieces) whole (unground) spices and nuts

NO PESAH HEKHSHER REQUIRED IF PURCHASED BEFORE PESAH Products which may only be purchased without a Pesah ±²¤ (hekhsher) before Pesah. If bought during Pesah they require a Pesah ±²¤ (hekhsher): x x x x

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all pure fruit juices filleted fish frozen fruit (no additives) non-iodized salt

x x x x

pure white sugar (no additives) quinoa (with nothing mixed in)* white milk Some products sold by Equal Exchange Fair Trade Chocolate16

PASSOVER 2016

RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY

RKEFUY[EI

3080 Broadway | New York, NY 10027 | phone 212.280.6000 | fax 212.749.9166 | info [email protected] | rabbinicalassembly .org

Frozen, uncooked vegetables may be processed on shared equipmeent that uses ®§  ((hhameitzz)). It is preferable to purchase those wiith a ´ ª­¥±²¤µ´NDVKHUO·3HVDKµ label.l One may, however buyy bags of frozen ore Pesah provided that one can either abs b olutely determine that no shared non-hekhsherreed vegetables befo equipment was used or one is carefuul to inspect the contents befo ore Pesah and discard anyy pieces of ®§  ((hhameitzz)). Even if one did not inspect the vegetables before Pesah, if one can remove pieces of ®§  ((hhameitzz)) fo ound in the package on Pesah, the vegetables themselves are permissible. i 17 *It has come to our attention that there is a possibilityy of grains being mixed with quinoa if it is nott under Pesach supervision. The best option is to purchase quinoa with i a Pesach ±²¤ ((hhekhsher), if it is available. :KHUHWKDWLVQRWDYDLODEOHSXUFKDVH%ROLYLDQRU3HUXYLDQTXLQRDPDUNHG´JOXWHQIUHHµEHIRUHPeessah. Please make certain that quinoa is the sole ingredient in the fina i l packaging.188

PESAH HEKHSHER ALWAYS REQUIRED Products which require reliable  ª­¥±²¤ NDVKHUO·3HVDK certiffic i ation (regular kosher supervision being not sufffiicient) whether bought befor o e or during Pesah: x

all baked goods o farfel o matzah o anyy product containing matzah o matzah fllour o matzah meal o Pesah cakes x all frozen processed fo oods

x x x x x x x x x

candy canned tuna cheeses chocolate milk decaf cofffee decaf tea dried fruits herbal tea ice cream

x x x x x x x

liquor Grade AA butter oils soda vinegar wine yogurt

i by a rabbii of a local dairy may sufffiice to resolve Regarding cheeses and non Grade AA butter, an inspection potential questions in some cases.

BABY FOOD Baby food with a Passover ±²¤ ((hhekhsherr) is sometimes available. Off course, home preparation off baby fo ood, using  ª­¥±²¤ NDVKHUO·3HVDK utensils and kitchen items is always possible. Pure veggetable prepared babyy food o that is±²¤ (kasherr) the year round is acceptablee for o Pesah. The use of ³ž¢©¡° ((k kitniyot) fo or babies is also acceptable wiith care taken that this babyy fo ood does not mix wit i h food from the rest of the family. Separate dishes and utensils are recommended. Most infant formulas are made from soyy and the use of ³ž¢©¡° ((k kitniyot) does not applyy to inffants. Thus inffant formula produccts,±²¤ (kasherr) the year round, are acceptable for o Pesah. Here as in babyy fo oods, the botttle l s, nipples and fo ormula should be kept away from the general kitchen area and clean up should be done out off the kitchen arrea (e.g. a bathroom sinkk). )

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MEDICINES Prescription medicines are permitted. Non-prescription pills and capsules are permitted; for liquids, check with your rabbi. PET FOOD The issue of pets on Pesah is a complicated one. There are several options: 1. The pet is given, for the week of Pesah, to a gentile who can feed it whatever food is available. 2. Since no ®§  (hameitz) is allowed in our possession on Pesah, one could feed the pet either  ª­¥±²¤ NDVKHUO·3HVDK pet food, pet foods with no grain, or food off your own table which is already ±²¤  ª­¥ NDVKHUO·3HVDK . Incidentally ³ž¢©¡° (kitniyot) would be permissible. 3. Some authorities allow for the pet to be sold along with the ®§  (hameitz) and, since the pet does not belong to the Jewish owner, regular pet food would be fed. Note that the document of sale would have to include the pet as well as ®§  (hameitz). If you have these pet foods in your home be careful to keep them away from the general kitchen area. Washing of pet utensils should be done out of the kitchen area (e.g. a bathroom sink).

NON FOOD ITEMS Any detergents, cleaners, etc. which are not a food stuff and which are not eaten, may be used for Pesah with no hekhshered supervision. This would include: x aluminum products x isopropyl alcohol x polish x ammonia x laundry and dish x powder and ointment detergent x baby oil x sanitizers x oven cleaner x bleach x scouring pads x paper bags x candles x stain remover x paper plates (with no x contact paper x water with no starch coating) additives x charcoal x plastic cutlery x wax paper x coffee filters x plastic wrap x fabric softener

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NOTES: 1

Updated January 2015

2

This guide was prepared by the kashrut subcommittee of the CJLS, chaired by Rabbi Paul Plotkin. We give special thanks to Dr. Regenstein for lending his expertise on matters of food production to our discussions.

3

For Conservative rabbis in your area, see: In the USA: uscj.org/kehilla.aspx Internationally: masortiworld.org 4

Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with using a warped pan on Pesach. The fear is that the possibility of ruining the pan will cause the owner not to subject the pan to the appropriate heat to effect kashering. We thus recommend simply purchasing some new pans specifically for Pesach. 5

The Star-K allows the sink to be used during the 24 hour waiting period provided that no hot water is used during that time. This alternative is doable only if care is taken that any water used is not hot enough to cause our hand to feel pain (yad soledet bo). 6

The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards passed a teshuvah on glass bakeware written by Rabbi Kassel Abelson that permits kashering of such bakeware. The teshuvah is available on the Rabbinical Assembly website: rabbinicalassembly.org/orah-hayyim#pesah and kashering 7

Ibid.

8

Most authorities treat glassware as a non-porous substance and require the same kashering process as other dishes or utensils. Those same authorities rely on the principle of ž²¢§²³šž± (rov tashmisho ² majority of usage) to determine the status of the item. A glass cup for example, used mostly for cold drinks, only requires ¢ž±« (iruy) to effect kashering. Only the ¦œ™¢¢ (Hayyei Adam) (125:22) posits the three day soaking ritual. The process of soaking is as follows: Immerse the glassware completely in warm water for 72 hours, changing the water every 24 hours. 9

The manufacture of plastics has changed and many plastic dishes and utensils are made to withstand water at high temperatures. The issue has been that, since some plastic can be ruined in very hot water, the fear was that the owner would not subject any plastic to water hot enough to effect kashering. And lest one think that plastic does not absorb, think of how red sauce, for example, stains a plastic container such that it is difficult to remove the stain. With care, we do feel that proper kashering can be effective for many plastic items. (Information on kashering of dishwashers made of plastics is found in note 11 below). 10

The racks, however, are left in the oven during the full cleaning cycle.

11

The following paper (not an official paper of the CJLS) by Rabbi Loel Weiss addresses the issues of dishwashers: Can a Dishwasher be Kashered for Passover? Orach Hayim, 451:2011 Rav Henkin (Am Hatorah,cycle 1, Volume 10, page 5), Tzitz Eliezer (4:6:3) and Minchas Yitzchok (3:67) are all authorities who permit the kashering of plastic.

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13

There are four problems associated with kashering a dishwasher. They are: 1. Heating element: Water enters a dishwasher and is then heated. The water is then sprayed throughout the entire dishwasher. If this water is considered an ¨ž²™±¢¥¤¢ž±« (iruy kli rishon - pouring from a first/primary vessel), then the sides and the racks of the dishwasher absorb the ¦«¡ (WD·DP ² taste) of the food being washed e.g. meat, dairy, hameitz. When the next set of dishes is washed, the ¦«¡ (WD·DP) of this food is then absorbed into those dishes. 2. Filter: While large particles of food can be cleaned from the filter, is it possible to completely clean the filter of all of the small food particles? 3. Sides: Does the sprayed water that carries the particles of food onto the sides of the dishwasher cause the ¦«¡ WD·DP E\WKHVLGHV" 4. Racks: This is the most serious issue. Since the dishes touch the racks we have a situation of±š¦«¡¨³ž© ¦«¡¨³ž© (QRWDLQWD·DPEDUQRWDLQWD·DP ² i.e., the food is absorbed into the racks). Psak: If the dishwasher is made of metal or plastic (i.e., the racks and the sides*) and we have cleaned out any actual food, we are only concerned about the ¦«¡ WD·DP of the food. We can ignore the concern for ¦«¡ WD·DP by waiting 24 hours before kashering and running the dishwasher empty at the highest temperature with detergent: 1. With the addition of detergent, the food taste can be considered ruined i.e., ¦›­¥¦«¡¨³ž© QRWHLQWD·DP O·IJDP  2. Since the iruy of a dishwasher is not steady, but is interrupted °ª­©²¢ž±« (iruy she-nifsak) we may also consider the¢ž±« (iruy) as coming from ¢©²¢¥¤ (kli sheni) and therefore we have another reason to be lenient. The ¢ž±« (iruy) does not cause the new set of dishes to absorb the previous ¦«¡ WD·DP , but to be certain we rely on the §¢›­ (pegima) of waiting 24 hours and of the detergent, and we retain the assumption that each spray of water ¢ž±« (iruy) is enough to kasher the dishwasher. 3. Since the filter is made out of plastic (sometimes metal), after waiting 24 hours and thoroughly cleaning the filter to remove any visible food particles, it can be kashered by¢ž±« (iruy) from the water of the cycling dishwasher itself. *If the dishwasher sides are made of enamel/porcelain, the generally accepted opinion is that enamel/porcelain is ª± ¢¥¤ (klei heres ² earthenware) and therefore cannot be kashered. 12

Many countertops appear not to absorb but actually do. Marble for example is very difficult to clean properly. Also, pouring hot water on countertops may inadvertently cause damage to the floor when the water runs off the counter. The alternative is simply to clean the counters and cover them. As sensitive Jews however we must be aware of the mitzvah of ³¢² ³¥š (bal tashhit ² not wasting resources) such that a covering that is thrown away after Pesach is wasteful. A plastic covering that is affixed to the counter, removed after Pesach, cleaned and stored for the future use would be one way to be sensitive to this mitzvah. Technically one of the prohibited grains becomes ®§  (hameitz) when, during processing, it comes in contact with a leavening agent for more than 18 minutes. Thus, matzah, while made from wheat, is not ®§  (hameitz), for in the processing no leavening agent comes in contact with it for more than the specified time before it is baked. Matzah VK·PXUDKis made from wheat that has not come in contact with a leavening agent (this could include water) from the time it is harvested, not simply from the time it is processed. (The additional care taken to keep the wheat free from leavening agents from the farm is, in part, the reason for its higher price.) It has become the custom of same Hasidic Jews not to cook matzah or matzah meal in any way that might cause the matzah to be in contact with a leavening agent even in the cooking process. They do not for example eat matzah balls, for those consist of matzah meal cooking in water for more than 18 minutes. They consider matzah balls and all such creations to be gebracht and forbidden on Pesach, except for the 8th day which is only celebrated outside of Israel. 13

14

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$IXOOGLVFXVVLRQRIWKHVHLVVXHVLVFRQWDLQHGLQWKHSDSHUHQWLWOHG´$1HZ/RRNDW3HDQXWV³)URPWKH*URXQG8Sµ by Rabbi Ben Zion Bergman, which is an official position of the CJLS. The teshuvah is available on the Rabbinical Assembly website: rabbinicalassembly.org/orah-hayyim#pesah and kashering

14

$IXOOGLVFXVVLRQRIWKHVHLVVXHVLVFRQWDLQHGLQWKHSDSHUHQWLWOHG´6XSHUYLVLRQRI3DVVRYHU)RRGµE\5DEEL3DXO Plotkin, which is an official position of the CJLS. The teshuvah is available on the Rabbinical Assembly website: rabbinicalassembly.org/orah-hayyim#pesah and kashering 15

16

Rabbi Aaron Alexander. Has determined that the products listed on this website are acceptable. http://shop.equalexchange.coop/pesach

17

See note 13

18

After doing research, we have made our ruling based on the following understanding: Quinoa is gluten free and is not kitniyot. Quinoa is grown at 12,000 plus foot elevations in regions of Bolivia and Peru. It is grown in very arid conditions which will not support the growth of ®§  (hameitz) producing grains. Thus, there is no possibility of field contamination IURPVXFKJUDLQV,QDGGLWLRQWKH)'$KDVSURSRVHGDVWDQGDUGIRUDQ\SDFNDJLQJPDUNHG´JOXWHQ-IUHHµZKLFKZLOO further guarantee that the product does not contain any gluten bearing grains. If, when the package is opened, you find that foreign grain is present, these foreign bodies should be discarded and the quinoa may be used on Pesah.

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15

17

After doing research, we have made our ruling based on the following understanding: Quinoa is gluten free and is not kitniyot. Quinoa is grown at 12,000 plus foot elevations in regions of Bolivia and Peru. It is grown in very arid conditions which will not support the growth of ®§  (hameitz) producing grains. Thus, there is no possibility of field contamination from such grains. In addition, tKH)'$KDVSURSRVHGDVWDQGDUGIRUDQ\SDFNDJLQJPDUNHG´JOXWHQ-IUHHµZKLFKZLOO further guarantee that the product does not contain any gluten bearing grains. If, when the package is opened, you find that foreign grain is present, these foreign bodies should be discarded and the quinoa may be used on Pesah.

Passover Mac & Cheese (Dairy) Ingredients 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . large eggs 3 1/2 cups . . . . . . matzah farfel 1/2 lb. . . . . . . . . . cheddar cheese 1 cup . . . . . . . . . . milk 1 tsp. . . . . . . . . . . salt 1/4 tsp. . . . . . . . . white pepper 1 pt. . . . . . . . . . . . sour cream 1 stick . . . . . . . . . margarine (or less)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2 quart dish. Beat 2 eggs with wisk and pour over farfel. Cup up or shred the cheese. Beat 1 egg with milk and salt and pepper. In dish, combine ½ farfel, ½ cheese, ½ sour cream and ½ the margarine in dabs. Then put in the rest of the farfel, cheese, sour cream and margarine. Pour the milk mixture over it and cover. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

www.torahtots.com

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WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT? ON ALL FESTIVALS WE ONLY EAT — ON THIS NIGHT WE CONDUCT A SEDER The Seder is a unique home service as old as the Jewish people itself. It is a religious service in which every member of the family participates, the smallest standing guard over the Afikoman, school-agers asking the Four Questions, and others asking questions of their own; adults discussing the age-old struggle for human freedom and dignity, planning how best to preserve them. It brings together all members of the family and reminds us how good it is to celebrate a Festival at home. The Seder reminds us of the eternal nature of the Jewish people. The first Pesach marked the birth of a unique nation, and as long as we keep our mission of showing the world a people who live by the Torah, we will remain on the slate of history. The Haggadah voices this assurance and every year we retell the story and repeat the pledge of Pesach. The Pharaoh of the Pesach story was not just a cruel king who happened to live at a certain time, in a certain country. To our ancestors, Pharaoh was more than one man. He was for them every tyrant, every cruel and heartless ruler who ever enslaved the men, women and children of his country. The first emancipation was thus only a foreshadowing of all the emancipations that were to follow and which will yet follow in the days to come. The victory over the first Pharaoh reminds us that the time will come when all the Pharaohs of the world will be vanquished and when right will conquer might, when God alone will rule over people and all people will be brothers. The name Moses is mentioned in the Haggadah only once, and then incidentally. There are two bits of distinctively Jewish logic behind this: 1. We emphasize the directness of the intervention by God, “Who took us out of Egypt, not through an angel and not through a messenger, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, in His glory and in Person.” 2. We seek to rule out any suggestions of hero-worship or idolization of an individual. Moses, who occupied the center of the stage on that fateful night, was but an instrument of God, as any of us can and should be.

SYMBOLS OF THE SEDER SEDER—The Hebrew word “Seder” means order. Since we arrange the table in a certain order and follow a special order for the service, we refer to this cere-

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mony as a Seder. THE HAGGADAH—Haggadah comes from the Hebrew word meaning “telling!” Since the book we use for the Seder “tells” the story of Passover, we call it Haggadah. THREE MATZOT—Our ancestors left Egypt in a hurry and did not have enough time to allow their dough to leaven, to become soft and to rise. Therefore, they ate matzot, unleavened bread, and we eat matzah as a reminder of their hasty departure. Three matzot represent the three kinds of Jews according to their tribal descent: the Kohanim, the priests; the Leviim, the Levites; and Yisraelim, the Israelites. According to another explanation, two matzot represent the two loaves placed on every holiday or Sabbath table, and the third matzah symbolizes, the LECHEM ONI, the poor man’s bread that our forefathers ate in Egypt. ELIJAH’S CUP—In the center of the table is a shiny goblet in honor of Elijah, the prophet, who, we are told, will announce the coming of the Messiah and bring peace and freedom to the world. THE SEDER PLATE—An important feature of the Seder table is the Seder plate on which is placed five symbols. Especially designed metal and ceramic Seder plates are often used for this occasion. The five symbols are: 1. Z’ROAH—The shankbone which helps us to remember the Passover Sacrifice during the days of the Temple. 2. CHAROSET—A Mixture of chopped apples and nuts flavored with cinnamon and wine, it is like the mortar from which our ancestors made bricks. 3. BETZAH—The roasted egg reminds us of the circle of life and its many blessings. 4. MAROR—The bitter herb symbolizes the bitter times in Egypt. 5. KARPAS—Parsley or another green vegetable that reminds us that Passover is the holiday of spring. FOUR CUPS—A prominent part of the Seder table is the wine cup from which each person drinks four times. There are several reasons given for drinking four cups of wine. The most popular one is that they represent the four different expressions used by God when He promised our ancestors freedom from Egyptian bondage. A fifth cup for Israel is explained later on. SALT WATER—Near the Seder plate, we place a dish of salt water. The salt water reminds us of the tears our forefathers shed in Egypt. AFIKOMAN—For children, a favorite part of the Seder is stealing the Afikoman. At the beginning of the Seder service, before we start to read the Haggadah, the middle matzah is broken and the larger half is put away, usually in a napkin which

is placed in a hiding place. At the end of the meal, it is eaten as dessert, or the last course in the menu. The Seder cannot be ended without the Afikoman. It has become a custom for children to try to “steal” the Afikoman and hide it until the end of the meal. Returning the Afikoman is a happy occasion for the children who stole it because parents must pay a ransom for it to get it back.

THREE SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS FOR THE SEDER Ha Lachma Anya After Ha lachma anya (and just before the 4 Questions), the leader uncovers the matzah. This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat with us! Let all who are in need come and celebrate Passover with us! This year we are here, next year may we be in the land of Israel! This year we are slaves; next year may we be free! The matzah symbolizes a job unfinished: it is bread without leaven. Only our hopes and prayers for two thousand years have made it “rise” to the idea of freedom, in our own country, in our own time. The matzah also reflects a dream yet unrealized: the security of our people in a sovereign state, free from war, tyranny and oppression. God has brought us out of slavery and rescued us from those who would seek our destruction. We have been redeemed through the ingathering of exiles from all over the world and taken our place among the nations as an independent people. Now we look forward to the fifth promise of redemption: “And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to your anc estors as a heritage” (Exodus 6:8). Since the establishment of the State of Israel, we pledge ourselves anew to the fulfillment of “A free people in our homeland the Land of Zion and Jerusalem!” Amen. The Matzah of Unity

To be recited during the Seder at Yachatz - before breaking the middle Matzah Passover is a beloved holiday, not only because we recall our freedom, but also because we share our concerns for all in need. We cannot only taste the foods. We have to remember our responsibilities as Jews to reach out and assist others with our tzedakah, our charitable obligations, and through our gemilut hasadim, our acts of loving-kindness. We connect our ritual symbols with our ethical deeds. We recall springtime as we eat the green vegetable Karpas. May we remember that it symbolizes a renewal of nature and the human spirit.

17

We recall our people’s tears and suffering as we dip into the saltwater. May we remember our people’s past oppressions and care for those who still have tears and pain. We recall the bitterness of slavery as we eat the Maror. May we remember the plight of the poor and the downtrodden and alleviate their distress. We recall our servitude to Pharaoh as we eat the Matzah, the bread of affliction. May we remember God’s redemption of our people and how Matzah became the first food eaten in freedom. Let us now take the middle Matzah and divide it in half. As we break this Matzah and set it aside, we link ourselves symbolically with all Jews throughout the world, especially those who were broken from the community of Israel for so long and have only recently rejoined KlalYisrael. Our Seder meal will not conclude until the missing piece of Matzah is found and returned to the table. The Matzah, when restored, shows the desire of our people to be together as one, at peace. As Jews, we are people of sacred fragments; we need help from God to bond together in everlasting unity. These symbols and rituals at the Seder reconnect us to our sacred past, remind us of our Divine mission, and challenge us to create a future of wholeness for Jews the world over. May this Pesach be a time of recommitment to our people and our faith. Amen. In Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

To Be Read Following The Grace After Meals And Just Before The Ceremony Of The Cup Of Elijah At this time, we remember with reverence and love the six million of our people who died at the hands of a tyrant more wicked than Pharaoh who enslaved our fathers in Egypt. “Come”, he said, “let us destroy these people that Israel may be remembered no more.” And then they slew the blameless and pure men, women and children with bullets, gas and fire. But never shall we forget how some who survived the ghetto and camps of destruction rose up against the wicked ones. On the first day of Pesach the remnants of the ghetto of Warsaw rose up against their enemy, as in the days of Judah the Maccabee. They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided, and they brought honor to the name of Israel throughout the world.

18

From the depth of their suffering, our brothers lifted their voices in a song of faith in the coming of the Messiah when people will be at peace with each other and hatred will be banished from the world. Let us now sing together “Ani Ma’aminI Believe”. Ani ma’amin be’emunah shelemah beviat hamashi’ach. V’af al pi she’yitmah’maya im kol zeh achakeh lo b’chol yom she’yavo. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, And although he may tarry,II will wait daily for his coming.

CUP OF ELIJAH Upon opening the door for Elijah The fourth cup of wine is filled, as is the Cup of Elijah. A custom attributed to the Hassidic rabbi, Naftali Tzvi Horowitz of Ropschitz, is that every participant adds some wine to Elijah’s cup in order to symbolize the cooperative work needed to bring about redemption. The door is opened. All rise to welcome Elijah with the greeting, Barukh Haba! (“Blessed is he who comes!”) The song, Eliyahu Ha-Navi, may be sung: Eliyahu Ha-Navi Eliyahu Ha-Tishbi Eliyahu, Eliyahu Eliyahu Ha-Gil'adi Bimheira b'yameinu Yavo Eileinu Im Mashiach ben David Im Mashiach ben David The four cups of our Seder symbolize the four promises of redemption that God made at the Burning Bush: “I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage; I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.. And I will take you to be My people...”(Exodus 6:6-7) These promises were fulfilled with the Exodus from Egypt. There is, however, a fifth promise: “And I will bring you into the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and give it to you as a lasting possession...” (Exodus 6:8)

This promise was realized as long as the Jewish people dwelled independently in their own land. With the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 CE and the end of Jewish sovereignty, the rabbis debated drinking a fifth cup to remind us of this promise. They decided to leave the question to be answered by Elijah the Prophet, who will herald the coming of the Messiah. A century after the formulation of political Zionism - since the establishment of the State of Israel - we look again for the fulfillment of the promise. May this year see the realization of all our dreams of Zion! May Israel dwell securely with all her neighbors and know the fruits of peace! And may we drink the fifth cup in Jerusalem rebuilt and redeemed! Amen. The door is closed and all are seated.

SEDER PLATE ARRANGEMENT There is a traditional order for the symbolic foods on the seder plate. By Lesli Koppelman Ross Some seder plates have spaces for five items and others for six. The additional item is hazeret, horseradish, which serves as a second bitter herb. With seder plates that have six holders, many people will use pieces of horseradish root for the maror (bitter herb) and ground horseradish for the hazeret. This article, written from a traditional perspective, also makes mention of a particular type of seder plate that sits atop a holder for the three matzot used at the seder. Most seder plates do not come with the matzah plate attached, and the matzah therefore sits on its own, separate plate. Excerpted from Celebrate! The Complete Jewish Holiday Handbook (Jason Aronson Inc). As with just about every other aspect of the seder, there are different opinions as to how the k'arah [seder plate]should be organized, based on each authority's concept of not slighting the matzah, or any other item, by reaching over it before it has been used. Most people follow a modified version of the pattern established by the Ari (Rabbi Isaac Luria, leading kabbalist of 16th-century Safed). At the center of the plate is maror [bitter herbs]. Karpas [green vegetable]is below to the left, hazeret (horseradish, if used) below it at the bottom of the plate, haroset below to the right, the bone above the maror to the right, and the egg above to the left.

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We usually put the three matzot the Ari placed at the top of the plate separate from the k'arah,or under it, as the Vilna Gaon did. This is practically accomplished with a three-tiered combination matzah/sederplate, with holders for the k'arah foods on top. Together, the items on the k'arah reflect what has happened to Jews in every dispersion throughout our history. First we experience renewal and birth (karpas) and establish ourselves through labor (haroset). Our lives become bitter (maror); we sweat and cry (salt water) under oppression (hazeret). Through sacrifice we are redeemed (z'roah) and we experience rebirth (beitzah). Lesli Koppelman Ross is a writer and artist whose works have appeared nationally. She has devoted much of her time to the causes of Ethiopian Jewry and Jewish education. Copyright 1994 by Jason Aronson Inc.

SEDERING WITH KIDS How to have a fun and meaningful Passover seder. By Sharon Duke Estroff Reprinted with permission of the author. For the parents of squirmy kids, a Passover seder can feel longer than the 40 years our ancestors spent wandering the desert. Fortunately, it's perfectly possible to prevent the fifth question (are we done yet?) and the eleventh plague (restless natives) from showing up at our Pesach celebrations this year. Taking into account that every family has different comfort levels, objectives and degrees of observance, here are some tips toward creating a fun and meaningful Passover Seder that promises to captivate the interest of all kinds of kids--wise, wicked, simple and just plain unable to ask.

Passover salad dressing for double dipping, will keep your kids happily crunching away until it's time for the main course. Give out Goody Bags Keep your junior seder participants happy and occupied with special plague goody bags. While you can purchase already prepared "bags of plagues" at Judaica stores and online for around $12 a piece, you can accomplish the same thing at the dollar store for a fraction of the price. Try plastic sunglasses for darkness, toy frogs, wild beasts and insects (lice and vermin); kosher for Passover marshmallows for hail, red dot stickers for boils; and bandaids for blood. Don't Passover the Books Visit a library or bookstore and stock up on Passover themed books. Scatter them around the table for children to peruse during the longest stretches of the Seder. A few surefire hits are: Shlemiel Crooks by Anna Olswanger, Wonders and Miracles by Eric Kimmel and Uncle Eli's Passover Haggadah by Eliezer Segal. Have an Afikomen Search Party It's always the same story at my house: The big cousins find the afikomen and the little cousins get upset; the little cousins get a prize anyway and the big cousins get upset. By making the afikomen hunt a team effort rather than a competition, we can do away with such griping. Use post-it notes to lead the search party from one destination to the nexti (i.e. "Go to the place where Elijah will enter," or "Pharaoh had frogs jumping in his bed," see if there are any jumping in yours"). The clues should ultimately lead the pack to the illusive dessert of honor. Be prepared with inexpensive "afikomen finder" rewards for the whole crew. Take Plague Breaks

That's the Ticket Prior to the big night, make "matzah tickets" out of index cards. Award the tickets to children throughout the Seder for reciting the Ma Nishtana, answering tricky Passover trivia questions, helping little brothers and sisters make Hillel sandwiches and oodles of other desirable seder behaviors. At the end of the evening let ticket-holders redeem their winnings for Passover related prizei (i.e. stickers, candies, plastic frogs). Keep the Karpas Coming Grumpy kids and hungry tummies go hand in hand. A steady flow of karpas (a.k.a. carrots and celery) and kosher for

PASSOVER 2016

Help kids stay focused and fidget-free during long seders by periodically letting them get their wiggles out. Should your children's attention start to stray from the task at hand, call for a "plague break" and instruct all antsy guests to jump like frogs or run in place like wild beasts.

Sometime before dinner, tell everyone to lift their plates, look at the card and track down their matching half. (Hint: For children too young to read--or to understand the match mentality--cut cards in half using varying puzzle cuts and write one word on each half. When kids find a card that "fits" theirs, they'll know they've found their match). Put a Spotlight on Stories The true purpose of the seder is to pass down the Passover story from generation to generation, but why stop there? Ask a few of your senior guests to come prepared to share stories about seders past. When kids get antsy, pass a play microphone to a family patriarch or matriarch and let the storytelling begin. Perform a Little Elijah Magic Give little skeptics something to think about by making Elijah's wine magically disappear. Secretly place some super absorbent polyacrylamide crystals (sold in gardening or craft stores as Aqua Crystals or Hydro Gel) in the bottom of an opaque Elijah cup. Just before you welcome the prophet, let your children see you fill the cup with "wine" (a.k.a. water with kosher for Passover food coloring). By the time you finish singing "Eliyahu Ha Navi" the liquid will be solidified. That's when you turn the cup upside-down and reveal-tada--Elijah drank every last drop! (Hint: A pre-seder practice round will help ensure a successful liquid/crystal ratio.) Keep An Eye On the Big Picture Sure, planning a kid-friendly seder is liable to take more work than simply bribing our kids to behave with a pound of chocolatecovered macaroons, or locking them in the playroom with a babysitter for the night. But we'll know our efforts have been well worth our while when our fidgety children one day do the same for our fidgety grandchildren. Sharon Duke Estroff is an internationally-syndicated Jewish parenting columnist, award-winning Jewish educator and mother of four. She is the author of Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hannukah? Her website is www.sharonestroff.com.

Have a Matzah Match Before the Seder, write matched pairs of Passover words on index cards. For example, write "Hillel" on one card and "sandwich" on another; "ten" on one card and "plagues" on another. Keep going – four/questions; matzah/ball; Elijah's/cup-until you have enough cards to secretly stash one under every guest's plate.

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Passover Brochure 2016-5776

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