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The Passover 2009 Calendar

An overview of the days of Passover in 2009

Tuesday April 7 – 13 Nissan

Did you remember to sell your Chametz? Your local qualified halachic authority (click here to find your local Chabad rabbi) can help, or e-mail your “Authorization for the Sale of Chametz” form.

Search for the Chametz after dark (click here for the exact time). Recite the blessing prior to the search, and the nullification of the Chametz (Kol Chamira) following the search. Click here for more information on the search and removal of Chametz.

Wednesday April 8 – 14 Nissan
The Day Before Passover

Laws & Customs:

Fast of the Firstborn. To be exempt from fasting, one must participate in a meal marking the fulfillment of a mitzvah; such a meal is generally held in a synagogue after morning prayers on this day.

Have you sold your Chametz? Final call! Your local qualified halachic authority (click here to find your local Chabad Rabbi) can help, or e-mail your “Authorization for the Sale of Chametz” form.

Stop eating Chametz before the end of the fourth seasonal hour (click here for the exact time).

Burn your remaining (unsold) Chametz before the fifth seasonal hour (click here for the exact time).

It is customary to recite “The Order of the Passover Offering” after the afternoon Minchah prayers.

Since Shabbat occurs immediately following the festival, an "eruv tavshilin" is prepared prior to the festival, so that it should be permitted to prepare food for Shabbat during the festival.

Light the Passover candles, reciting blessings 2 & 4. Click here for the blessings, and here for local candle lighting times. Click here for a summary of the laws of Yom Tov.

Complete Hallel is recited during Maariv (evening) services.

First Seder: The Seder contains the observance of many Biblical and Rabbinic Mitzvot, including: eating Matzah, eating Marror (bitter herbs), drinking four cups of wine, relating the story of the exodus to our children, reclining as a symbol of freedom, etc. (Click here for a How-To Seder guide.)

To locate a public Seder near you, please click here.

The first night of Passover is referred to as “leil shimurim” (a night of guarding), based on Exodus 12:42.

Thursday April 9 – 15 Nissan
1st day of Passover

Laws & Customs:

Morning service. Full Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Exodus 12:21–51 and Numbers 28:16–25.
Haftorah: Joshua 3:5–7, 5:2–6:1, 6:27.

Beginning with the Musaf Amidah, we recite “morid hatal,” the prayer for dew, and we omit the prayer for rain. This practice continues until Shemini Atzeret, the day after Sukkot.

The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.

Festive lunch meal.

Complete Hallel is recited during Maariv evening prayers, followed by the “Counting of the Omer.” We count the 1st day of the Omer. The counting of the Omer is recited during each of the next forty-nine days, leading up to the holiday of Shavuot on the fiftieth day. The 49 days embody the 49 steps of self-improvement — beginning with the departure from our “personal” Egypt, until our arrival at Mount Sinai, when we are ready to accept the wisdom of the Torah.

After dark, light candles for the 2nd day of Passover, using an existing flame, and recite blessings 2 & 4. Click here for the blessings, and here for local candle lighting times.

Second Seder: The Seder contains the observance of many Biblical and Rabbinic Mitzvot, including: eating Matzah, eating Marror (bitter herbs), drinking four cups of wine, relating the story of the exodus to our children, reclining as a symbol of freedom, etc. (Click here for a How-To Seder guide.)

Friday April 10 – 16 Nissan
2nd Day of Passover


Laws & Customs:

Morning service. Full Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Leviticus 22:26–23:44 and Numbers 28:16–25.
Haftorah: II Kings 23:1–9, 21–25.

The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.

Festive lunch meal.

Before sunset, light the Shabbat candles (using an existing flame), and recite blessing 1. Click here for the blessing, and here for local candle lighting times.

Shabbat evening prayers begin with Mizmor leDavid rather than with Lechu Nerannena. Following the Amidah, count the 2nd day of the Omer.

Enjoy a relaxing Shabbat meal with Passover food (no Challah of course -- use two matzahs instead).

Shabbat April 11 – 17 Nissan
3rd day of Passover
1st day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)

Laws & Customs:

Morning service: Normal Shabbat prayers, with the addition of the Yaaleh Veyavo insert in the Amidah. Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.

Torah reading: Exodus 33:12–34:26 and Numbers 28:19–25. Haftorah: Ezekiel 37:1-14.

Holiday Musaf Amidah, with Shabbat inserts, is recited.

Festive lunch meal.

Atah Chonantanu is added in the Amidah of the evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 3rd day of the Omer.

After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony, omitting the blessings on the spices and on the candle flame.

Celebrate the remainder of Passover’s intermediate days. Between now and the last two days of Passover, we may resume much (not all) of our regular, workday activities; but, of course, we continue to eat Kosher for Passover foods exclusively. It is customary to drink a glass of wine or grape juice each day, in celebration of the festival.

Sunday April 12 – 18 Nissan
4th day of Passover
2nd day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)

Laws & Customs:

Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Passover, tefillin are not worn.

Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark. Torah reading: Exodus 33:12–34:26 and Numbers 28:19–25. The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.

The Intermediate Days are observed with limited work restriction.

After nightfall, count the 4th day of the Omer.

Monday April 13 – 19 Nissan
5th day of Passover
3rd day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)

Laws & Customs:

Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Passover, tefillin are not worn.

Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark. Torah reading: Exodus 22:24–23:19 and Numbers 28:19–25 and Numbers 28:19–25. The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.

The Intermediate Days are observed with limited work restriction.

After nightfall, count the 5th day of the Omer.

Tuesday April 14 – 20 Nissan
6th day of Passover
4th day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)

Laws & Customs:

Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Passover, tefillin are not worn.

Half Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark. Torah reading: Numbers 9:1–14 and Numbers 28:19–25. The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.

The Intermediate Days are observed with limited work restriction.

Light candles for the 7th day of Passover, and recite blessing 2. Click here for the blessing, and here for local candle lighting times.

Evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 6th day of the Omer.

It is customary in many communities to remain awake all night, studying Torah, in commemoration of the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea, which occurred on the 7th day of Passover.

Wednesday April 15 – 21 Nissan
7th day of Passover — Shevi'i Shel Pesach

Laws & Customs:

Morning service. Partial Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Exodus 13:17–15:26 and Numbers 28:19–25.
Haftorah: II Samuel 22:1–51.

The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.

Festive lunch meal.

Evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 7th day of the Omer.

Light candles for the 8th day of Passover after dark, using an existing flame, and recite blessing 2. Click here for the blessing, and here for local candle lighting times.

Thursday April 16 – 22 Nissan
Final Day of Passover — Acharon Shel Pesach

Laws & Customs:

Morning service. Partial Hallel is recited. Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17 and Numbers 28:16–25.
Haftarah: Isaiah 10:32–12:6.

The Yizkor memorial service is recited following the Torah reading.

The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.

Festive lunch meal.

On this final day of Passover we strive for the highest level of freedom, and focus on the Final Redemption. Following the Baal Shem Tov’s custom, we end Passover with “Moshiach’s Feast” — a festive meal complete with matzah and four cups of wine, during which we celebrate the imminent arrival of the Messiah. The feast begins before sunset and continues until after nightfall.

Evening prayers. After the Amidah, count the 8th day of the Omer.

After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony, omitting the blessings on the spices and on the candle flame.

Nightfall is the official end of Passover (for the exact time, click here). Wait an hour to give the rabbi enough time to buy back your Chametz before eating it.

Friday April 17 – 23 Nissan

The day following the holiday is known as Isru Chag. It is forbidden to fast on this day.


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26 Comments Posted

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26 Comments Posted  |  Post A Comment
Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Apr 29, 2008
Rules
The rules help us reach our full spiritual potential, and help us uncover the spirituality within the holiday, among other things... and there's plenty of spirituality... In fact, the material exists for the spiritual, as is written in the holy Zohar "G-d desired a home in the lower realms" so He created the world and human beings and gave us the Torah and its laws to help us fulfill His wishes. These links may interest you, the Passover Study section, Rules and Who Wants a Religion of No's?
Posted By Chani Benjaminson, chabad.org

Posted: Apr 28, 2008
To Michael
I very much agree with you, and I think that all the Christians and other religions out there need to realize that the Jews are not the chosen people; we chose to obey
G-d's laws and all his rules, not just the ones we liked. So I support you 100% Michael, thanks for standing up for all of us.
Posted By Jerica

Posted: Apr 28, 2008
To Christian Right
Dear Christian,

you should look at any other religion including christianity and you will see even more rules and regulations to it. No one makes a person to be a jew, it's a religion by choice, not by requirement. That's why it's hard to be a jew, and that's why we are trying to keep our traditions alive. My grand-father was practiving while he was in the concentration camp in Germany 60 years ago, and that's what helped him to servive. I think you should not talk like this if you do not know what are you talking about.

thanks
Posted By Michael, NY, NY



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