The following table represents the Passover calendar / Pesach calendar for those who celebrate Pesach / Passover for 7 days:
| Date in Jewish/Hebrew Calendar |
Date in Gregorian/Christian Calendar |
Religious Activity/Activities |
| 14th Nissan: Erev Pesach ("the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) (Nightfall Sunday to Nightfall Monday = 14th of Nissan) | Sunday, March 24th, 2013 (Nightfall Sunday to Nightfall Monday = 14th of Nissan) | - Bedikat Chametz - "Search For Leaven", meaning chametz, using a candle and feather. This year, Bedikat Chametz is performed either just after sunset or just after nightfall on Sunday, March 24th, 2013, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows. Recite the Bedikat Chametz blessing prior to the search, and then recite the Kol Chamira or "nullification of all leaven" blessing immediately after the search (Kol Chamira or Chol Chamira means "nullification of all leaven" in Aramaic). Reciting "Kol Chamira" also fulfills G-ds' commandment of "Bitul Chametz", meaning the "mental nullification of all leaven" in Hebrew, which means that one eliminates one's mental concerns about any chametz in the household. [Note: if the day before the Passover festival falls on Shabbat (this is not the case for this year), then Bedikat Chametz - usually performed either after sunset or after nightfall in the final evening before the start of Passover, that is, the final evening whereupon the next evening is the start of Passover (meaning the start of Erev Pesach, "the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) - is instead moved back one day to either after sunset or after nightfall on Thursday evening, on the 13th day of Nissan].
- Ta'anit Bechorot or Ta'anit Bekhorot (Ta'anit Bechorot or Ta'anit Bekhorot means "Fast of the First-Borns" in Hebrew). The first-born male in each Jewish family fasts for 1 day - from sunrise until sunset on the day before Passover - in commemoration of the 10th plague of Passover, in which G-d spared the first born male in every Jewish household in Egypt, and instead slew the first born in every Egyptian household. If there is no first born male in a Jewish household, then the oldest male in the family fasts. If there are no children, then the oldest member of the family fasts. This is done because all Egyptian families were affected by G-d's wrath, whether or not they had a first born son. This fast is also in memory of the slain first born Egyptian males, and symbolizes the gratitude of the first born males of Jewish households to G-d as well as serves as a reminder of G-d's might and power. However, first born Jewish males can be exempted from the Ta'anit Bechorot or Ta'anit Bekhorot by attending a siyyum bekhorot. Siyyum means "the celebration held after the public completion of study of a tractate of the Talmud or at the end of a year of study" in Hebrew, and siyyum bekhorot means "the celebration held after the public completion of study of a tractate of the Talmud or at the end of a year of study for first borns" in Hebrew. This celebration usually involves eating at a feast. The siyyum bekhorot is done so that the obligation or mitzvah to hold a celebration will override the minor obligation or mitzvah to fast on the day before Passover. The siyyum bekhorot is done on the morning before Passover (14th Nissan), with the ritual of burning the chametz (called "Biur Chametz" in Hebrew; "Biur" literally means "destruction" in Hebrew; especially, "destruction by fire") done soon after that, and before the morning is over. [Note: if the day before the Passover festival falls on Shabbat (this is not the case for this year), then Ta'anit Bekhorot - usually performed on Erev Pesach ("the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) - is instead moved back to the final Thursday before the start of Passover, on the 12th day of Nissan]
- The eating of leaven must stop before about 4 hours after sunrise. The time of sunrise will vary depending on one's latitude and on where one is located in the world. Therefore, morning prayers should be completed as early as possible so that one can finish eating chametz at the breakfast meal before the religiously appointed time to stop eating chametz in one's geographical location.
- Biur Chametz ("destruction" in Hebrew, especially, "destruction by fire") - burning of leaven/chametz. This must be done before about 5 hours after sunrise. The time of sunrise will vary depending on one's latitude and on where one is located in the world. This ritual is performed if one still finds chametz in one's possession and/or household even after performing Bedikat Chametz. After destroying the leaven by burning it, the bracha ("blessing" in Hebrew) and Kol Chamira that was performed for the Bedikat Chametz ritual are repeated here. [Note: if the day before the Passover festival falls on Shabbat (this is not the case for this year), then Biur Chametz - usually performed on the 14th day of Nissan which is Erev Pesach ("the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) - is instead performed one day earlier, on the 13th day of Nissan.]
- Since we are not permitted by Jewish law to create a new flame on Yom Tov (as well as Shabbat/the Sabbath), we therefore must kindle a new flame before the Yom Tov day and use this new flame to kindle two Yom Tov candles [which when Yom Tov falls on Shabbat (not in 2013), are also the Shabbat candles] at the start of the Yom Tov day, so that one can use this flame that existed before Yom Tov to not only kindle the two Yom Tov candles on the first day of Passover/Pesach, but also to have this flame that existed before Yom Tov available to use to re-kindle the Yom Tov candles in case one or both of the Yom Tov candles on the first day of Passover/Pesach accidentally burn out. To achieve this, one must prepare and kindle a candle that must be safely lit from the time we kindled it just before Yom Tov begins to at least until the time when we need to use it to kindle the two Yom Tov candles either just after sunset or just after nightfall when Yom Tov begins. One can use a 26-hour Yahrtzeit candle [Yahrtzeit literally means "(a) year's time" or "time (of) year" in Yiddish, meaning another year has passed I.E. an anniversary; in this context, an anniversary of the passing of a close relative; colloquially, an annual time of memorial] I.E. a Memorial candle for this activity. The 26-hour Yahrtzeit candle or Memorial candle will be used to light the two Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) candles on the 1st day of Passover/Pesach, either just after sunset or just after nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
- Candle-lighting time for Yom Tov in 2013: Traditionally, Yom Tov candles (as well as Shabbat/Sabbath candles) are lit either just after sunset or just after nightfall depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows. However, since there is a custom to "extend" the time for Yom Tov (as well as for Shabbat/the Sabbath) due to it being the next highest level of holiness time after Shabbat/the Sabbath by "borrowing" time from the day previous to Yom Tov and the day following Yom Tov (for Shabbat/the Sabbath, time is borrowed from the day previous to and following Shabbat/the Sabbath) and adding that time onto the beginning and ending of Yom Tov respectively (same idea for Shabbat/the Sabbath, where time is "borrowed" from the day previous to and following Shabbat/the Sabbath and added to Shabbat/the Sabbath), most Jewish people light Yom Tov candles anywhere from 15 minutes to a half-hour before sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows. The most popular time to light Yom Tov candles (as well as Shabbat/Sabbath candles) are at 18 minutes before sunset. Therefore, in 2013, most Jewish people will kindle the Yom Tov candles at 18 minutes before sunset. Again, the time of sunset will vary depending on one's latitude and on where one is located in the world.
Candle-lighting for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover: Before kindling the lights for Yom Tov, recite the following blessing for Yom Tov:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast hallowed us by thy commandments, and hast commanded us to kindle the Festival light. The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season.
The following is the Kiddush for Yom Tov (Yom Tov is either a Jewish festival day or a Jewish holiday). The Kiddush is recited in order to formally begin a festive meal; in this case, for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush for Yom Tov begins with the recitation of the Yayin ("Wine" in Hebrew) blessing, which is a blessing made over a glass of red wine that thanks G-d for providing the "fruit of the vine" I.E. grapes for making wine, followed by the Kiddush blessing which mentions words about the holiness of Yom Tov; in this case, Yom Tov is a festival day, the 1st day of Pesach / Passover:
Here is the blessing over the wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
The Kiddush Blessing for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast chosen us from all the peoples, and exalted us above all nations, and hallowed us by thy commandments. And thou hast given us in love, O L-rd our G-d, (on Sabbath, say: Sabbaths for rest), holy festivals for gladness, and sacred seasons for joy: this Sabbath day and this day of the Festival of Matzos, the time (or season) of our freedom in love; a holy convocation, as a memorial of the departure from Egypt; for thou hast chosen us, and hallowed us above all peoples, and thy holy (on Sabbath, say: Sabbaths and) festivals thou hast caused us to inherit in love and favor in joy and gladness. Blessed art thou, O L-rd, who hallowest (on Sabbath, say: the Sabbath,) Israel and the festive Seasons.
The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season.
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| Pesach/Passover 5773 |
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| 1st Day of Pesach/Passover | Monday, March 25th, 2013 (Nightfall Monday to Nightfall Tuesday = 15th of Nissan) | - When does Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach begin? The answer is that Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach begins either just after sunset or just after nightfall, or if one follows the custom to "extend" the day of Yom Tov by "borrowing" time from the day previous to Yom Tov (and adding it to the beginning of Yom Tov, meaning Yom Tov will begin earlier than the traditional time of starting just after sunset or just after nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this starting time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a half-hour before sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows) and by "borrowing" time from the day following Yom Tov (meaning time from the day following Yom Tov is appended to the Yom Tov day, extending the Yom Tov day beyond its traditional ending time of sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this ending time can be anywhere up to a half-hour after sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows). Though Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach has begun, we must officially begin Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) by performing the recitation of the Yom Tov blessing and we must also kindle two Yom Tov candles.
- The two Yom Tov candles for the first day of Pesach/Passover are kindled with a pre-existing flame, meaning a flame that was already in existence by having been lit before Yom Tov; that is, one can use the flame of the aforementioned 26-hour Yahrtzeit candle.
Reciting the Yom Tov blessing before or after kindling the Yom Tov candles: There is a Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must recite the Yom Tov blessing before kindling the Yom Tov candles. On Shabbat/the Sabbath, one first kindles the two Shabbat candles and then one recites the Shabbat blessing, so that one may be able to re-kindle the Shabbat candles if one or both of them accidentally burn out, since Shabbat does not officially begin until the Shabbat blessing is recited. Since some Jewish people prefer to follow the same order of kindling candles for Yom Tov and then reciting the blessing for Yom Tov as they do for Shabbat while fulfilling the Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must first recite the blessing for Yom Tov and then kindle the Yom Tov candles, they fulfill both by first kindling the two candles - which are not yet Yom Tov candles since one did not yet recite the blessing for Yom Tov - and then they recite the Yom Tov blessing with one's eyes either closed or with one's hands covering one's eyes. After the person finishes reciting the Yom Tov blessing, Yom Tov has officially begun, and the person then either opens their eyes or removes their hands from their eyes to view for the first time on this Yom Tov what are now the two Yom Tov candles. This method fulfills both the custom to follow the order of first kindling the candles and then reciting the blessing on Yom Tov as is done for Shabbat, as well as to first recite the blessing for Yom Tov while shielding one's eyes from the two candles and then viewing the two Yom Tov candles for the first time after reciting the Yom Tov blessing.
Yom Tov blessing:
The following Yom Tov blessing is in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olam A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holiday (or in this case, festival day). The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season. The following is the Kiddush for Yom Tov (either a Jewish festival day or a Jewish holiday). The Kiddush is recited in order to formally begin a festive meal; in this case, for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush for Yom Tov comprises the Yayin ("Wine" in Hebrew) blessing, followed by the Kiddush blessing for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover:
Here is the blessing over the wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
The Kiddush Blessing for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover is as follows:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has chosen us from among all nations, raised us above all tongues, and sanctified us by His commandments. And You, G-d, have given us lovingly {on the Sabbath, say the following: Sabbaths for rest}, festivals for rejoicing, holidays and seasons for gladness, {on the Sabbath, say the following: this Sabbath day and} this day of the Feast of Matzos, this day of holy assembly, the season of our freedom {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love}, a holy assembly commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath and} Your holy festivals {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love and favor}, in gladness and joy, have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath,} Israel and the festive seasons.
The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season. - The Seder begins either just after sunset or just after nightfall, meaning after the lighting of the two Yom Tov candles and after the Ma'ariv or Arvit ("Evening" in Hebrew) prayer service. Refer to the Passover/Pesach Haggadah for step-by-step instructions on how to conduct the 15 ordered steps that comprise the Seder. There are over 3,000 versions of the Passover/Pesach Haggadah, with each version being based on the political, social, and/or religious philosophies in Judaism that one follows, but the structure and order of the 15 steps are always the same for each version. The reason for the variety of versions in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah is that rabbis down through the ages have encouraged the "telling" and interpretation of the Passover/Pesach story in as many ways as possible so that the timeless messages contained in the Passover/Pesach story could be understood and appreciated by as many people as possible since these are messages that all human beings can relate to and learn from.
- After starting the Pesach/Passover Seder following the lighting of the Yom Tov candles, the first 1 oz. of matzah should be eaten within 4 minutes from the start of the Pesach/Passover Seder.
- The first day of Pesach/Passover ends either at sunset or at nightfall, where nightfall is defined in Jewish law as occurring either 72 minutes after sea level sunset or if it is a clear sky, when three medium-sized stars first appear and are sighted in the sky.
- After the end of the 1st day of Pesach/Passover at either sunset or at nightfall: Performing a partial version of the Havdalah ceremony: When a Yom Tov day is immediately followed by a secular weekday, then a partial version of the full Havdalah ceremony is performed after Yom Tov ends at either sunset or at nightfall and before midnight to separate or distinguish the comparatively higher level of holy time that characterizes a Yom Tov day from the ordinary time of the secular weekdays. The partial Havdalah ceremony involves just the reciting of the Havdalah blessing over a cup of wine, and omits the use of the Havdalah candle(s) and the spice box containing the spices/herbs as well as the omission of the associated blessing for each, that is, the blessing for fire, and the blessing for the spices/herbs.
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| Chol HaMoed (Intermediate Days of the Pesach/Passover festival) |
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| 1st Day of Chol HaMoed | Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 (Nightfall Tuesday to Nightfall Wednesday = 16th of Nissan) | - During Chol HaMoed days, it is customary to drink either a glass of wine or a glass of grape juice each day to commemorate the Passover festival.
- During Chol HaMoed days, we continue to consume Kosher for Passover foods and drinks.
- During Chol Hamoed days, we can perform work as long as the type of work we perform does not fall under the 39 forms of forbidden work.
- No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
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| 2nd Day of Chol HaMoed | Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 (Nightfall Wednesday to Nightfall Thursday = 17th of Nissan) | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
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| 3rd Day of Chol HaMoed | Thursday, March 28th, 2013 (Nightfall Thursday to Nightfall Friday = 18th of Nissan); Erev Shabbat ["Day Before (the) Sabbath" in Hebrew] | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
- Shabbat Laws: Shabbat begins at 18 minutes before sea level sunset, for those who follow that authoritative rabbinical opinion. Others may follow other authoritative rabbinical opinions, which state that Shabbat or the Sabbath can begin anywhere from 15 minutes before sea level sunset up to a half hour before sea level sunset. Technically-speaking, the Jewish day ends at either sunset or nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows, but with the holiness of Shabbat, the rabbis extended the time of Shabbat by adding time from the day prior to and following Shabbat, meaning Shabbat begins anywhere from 15 minutes up to a half hour prior to sunset and ends about a half hour after nightfall.
- In the afternoon on the day before Shabbat (this day), and prior to lighting the two Shabbat candles, it is customary to recite the Minchah (afternoon prayer service) prayer and then put some money into a charity box ("tzedakah pushkah", where "tzedakah" means "charity" in Hebrew, and "pushkah" means either "box" or "can" in Yiddish).
- Preparing for Shabbat: Secure two Shabbat candles in their candle holders prior to the time for lighting the Shabbat candles. Why two Shabbat candles? The two Shabbat candles represent the two times that Shabbat is commanded to be observed in the Torah; specifically, the two times that the 4th Commandment is mentioned in the Torah: (1) in the 4th Commandment: "Remember ("Zachor" in Hebrew) the Sabbath Day to keep it holy" (Shemot or Exodus 20:7), and (2) "And thou shalt remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and the L-RD thy G-d brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the L-RD thy G-d commanded thee to keep (observe = "Shamor" in Hebrew) the Sabbath day" (Devarim or Deuteronomy 5:14).
- What is the purpose of the two Shabbat candles? There are two principal purposes of the Shabbat candles: (1) to bring "Shalom Bayit" ("harmony in the home" in Hebrew), which is symbolized by the Shabbat candles bringing both the light and candle light into the household for the Friday evening Shabbat meal, which in turn creates a specific atmosphere, and (2) the Shabbat candles bring "Oneg Shabbat" ("the Joy of the Sabbath" in Hebrew) into the household by representing both the light and happiness that Shabbat gives to us. Therefore, to achieve both of these goals or purposes, the two Shabbat candles are placed and kindled where the Friday evening Shabbat meal will take place.
- Select a place where the Shabbat candles will remain throughout the entire time period of Shabbat, and before lighting the two candles, make sure to have a match and a matchbook placed next to the two candles. When it comes time to kindle the two Shabbat candles, bring the family together to observe the event.
- As mentioned, there are different authoritative rabbinical opinions as to when Shabbat begins: most rabbis and Jewish people follow the opinion to begin Shabbat at least 18 minutes before sunset whereas other rabbinical opinions state that Shabbat can begin either at 15 minutes before sunset or anywhere up to a half hour before sunset. The exact time for Shabbat candle-lighting depends on one's geographic latitude and on where one is located in the world.
- Since Shabbat begins after the blessing for Shabbat is recited, and since it is forbidden by Jewish law to create a new flame on Shabbat, we cannot recite the Shabbat blessing before striking a match to kindle the two Shabbat candles, since the result of successfully striking a match would create a new flame, forbidden during Shabbat. Therefore, we follow the subsequent order for formally beginning Shabbat: At the aforementioned time one follows for starting Shabbat, the person who recites the Shabbat blessing lights the two Shabbat candles. This is traditionally performed by the woman of the household, since this commandment ("mitzvah" in Hebrew) is just one of the many commandments that have been given to women to perform in Jewish law. Although each Jewish person is obligated to kindle the two Shabbat candles, when both males and females are present at the kindling of the two Shabbat candles, the woman of the household has lit the two Shabbat candles on behalf of all who are present, due to being assigned this obligation in Jewish law. If no women are present, then the male can kindle the Shabbat candles and recite the associated Shabbat blessing and kiddush.
- After lighting the Sabbath candles, the woman (and all who are present at the Shabbat ceremony) then welcomes in a special guest known as the "Sabbath Queen" ["Shabbat Ha-Malka" in Hebrew), who, in Jewish mystical tradition, is the "Shechinah" (the "dwelling" or the "settling" in Hebrew, meaning the dwelling or settling presence of G-d, especially in the Temple in Jerusalem, but also a dwelling or settling in a special sense, meaning a dwelling or settling of divine presence, to the effect that, while in proximity to the Shechinah, the connection to G-d is more readily perceivable. The Sabbath Queen, being the Shechinah, is the nurturing and loving Divine Presence that expresses the "feminine" aspects of G-d - the Compassionate One.)]. How does the woman, as well as all who are present at the Shabbat ceremony, welcome in the Sabbath Queen? She/they do this by first stretching her/their hands out towards the candles. Then she/they move her/their hands inward in a circular motion and she/they perform this circular motion three times, which represents the ushering in of the Sabbath Queen. Following this, only the woman who is reciting the Shabbat blessing then covers her eyes with her hands or simply closes her eyes and recites the following Sabbath blessing in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Ki-deshanu Be-mitzvo-tav Ve-tzvi-vanu Le-hadlik Ner Shel Shabbat.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to light the candle of Shabbat. [Note that when Yom Tov falls on Shabbat/the Sabbath (not the case in 2013), the traditional Shabbat/Sabbath blessing will include words about kindling the lights for Yom Tov and this replaces the traditional Shabbat/Sabbath blessing and Yom Tov blessing for their respective days]
After reciting the blessing, while the woman has her face covered by her hands or her eyes closed, it is customary for the woman to offer a private prayer for anything that she desires. Also, personal prayers of thanks can be silently offered at this point. After this private prayer is offered, the woman removes her hands from her face or opens her eyes to see the Shabbat candles for the first time on this Shabbat (remember, Shabbat does not begin until the Shabbat blessing has been recited) and says a traditional wish to all who are present. This wish is either a wish for a "Gut Shabbos" ("Good Sabbath" in Yiddish) or a wish for a "Shabbat Shalom" ["Sabbath (of) Peace" in Hebrew]. - Next, the woman recites the Kiddush for Shabbat [if Yom Tov falls on Shabbat (not the case in 2013), then the Kiddush blessing for Shabbat will include words about Yom Tov]. The Kiddush for Shabbat includes the Blessing Over The Wine followed by the Kiddush Blessing for Shabbat.
The Blessing Over The Wine is as follows: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
The Kiddush Blessing for Shabbat is as follows: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has chosen us from among all nations, raised us above all tongues, and sanctified us by His commandments. And You, G-d, have given us lovingly Sabbaths for rest {on a festival, say the following: festivals for rejoicing}, holidays and seasons for gladness, this Sabbath day {on Passover/Pesach, say the following: and this day of the Feast of Matzos, this day of holy assembly, the season of our freedom} in love, {on Passover/Pesach, say the following: a holy assembly commemorating the exodus from Egypt}.
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, the Sabbath and {on a festival, say the following: and Your holy festivals} in love and favor, in gladness and joy, have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies the Sabbath {on a festival, say the following: Israel and the festive seasons}. - Note that accepting Shabbat is on an individual basis, which means that each member of the household must accept Shabbat individually by each kindling two Shabbat candles. The most common custom is to kindle two Shabbat candles per member of a household. However, there is a custom that if a woman is married, she kindles two Shabbat candles, and if a woman is unmarried, she kindles one Shabbat candle.
- According to some authoritative rabbinical opinions, it is only after reciting the Kiddush blessing for Shabbat, rather than after reciting the Shabbat blessing, that Shabbat has officially begun for the woman who recited the Kiddush blessing for Shabbat, as well as for all males and females who were present for the Shabbat ceremony.
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| 4th Day of Chol HaMoed | Friday, March 29th, 2013 (Nightfall Friday to Nightfall Saturday = 19th of Nissan) (Shabbat = Sabbath) | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
- Shabbos / Sabbath ends at either sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows (some Jewish communities like to extend Shabbat beyond sunset or nightfall to both extend and hopefully carry the spirit of Shabbat into the weekdays; this means that though the time for Shabbat is extended anywhere up to a half-hour after sunset or nightfall, many prefer to end the celebration of Shabbat sometime before midnight for the purpose of carrying the spirit of Shabbat into the weekdays).
- Performing the "full" Havdalah ceremony: Finally, on Saturday evening at nightfall (nightfall is defined in Jewish law as occurring either 72 minutes after sea level sunset or if it is a clear sky, when three medium-sized stars first appear and are sighted in the sky), the "full" Havdalah ceremony is performed (meaning all rituals contained in the Havdalah ceremony are performed). The full Havdalah ceremony - which is usually preceded by some verses from the Hebrew Bible - contains 4 blessings [Performed in the following order: (1) Blessing over the wine, (2) Blessing over the spices, (3) Blessing over the fire, and (4) The Havdalah blessing itself], either two Havdalah candles or two interwoven Havdalah candles that are joined at the wick, whichever is being used, a spice box containing either spices and/or herbs, a cup filled with wine, preferably red wine, and a small tray to hold the cup of wine. The full Havdalah ceremony is performed anytime from after nightfall to midnight on Saturday to formally usher out Shabbat (Shabbat actually ends at nightfall on Saturday but by Jewish law, we must formally usher it out, and as mentioned, there is a custom to extend Shabbat about a half hour beyond nightfall), but if for whatever reason one cannot perform the Havdalah ceremony by midnight on Saturday evening, then Havdalah can be performed anytime until Tuesday evening at nightfall, but without the use of the Havdalah candle(s) nor the spice box containing the spices and/or herbs, and the omission of the recitation of the associated blessing for each (that is, the blessing over the fire and the blessing over the spices/herbs, respectively). Havdalah ("separation" or "distinction" in Hebrew) is a formal way of separating or distinguishing the holy time of Shabbat from the ordinary time of the secular weekdays that follow Shabbat in order to demonstrate that Shabbat time is a different and more special kind of time than the time period for the secular weekdays, as Shabbat time gives us a taste or idea of what Messianic times will be like: in other words, one long, Shabbat - a time of eternal justice and peace for the Hebrew/Jewish people and ultimately, for all humanity. In Judaism, we work during the secular weekdays toward bringing about the perfection of the world which we get a taste of at the end of the week with Shabbat, which is an ever- constant reminder to us to strive during the secular weekdays toward bringing Messianic times upon us. The full Havdalah ceremony is performed when formally separating or distinguishing between either Shabbat and the secular weekdays, or between the higher holy time of Shabbat and the comparatively lesser holy time of a Yom Tov day ("Yom Tov" means "holiday" in Hebrew; in the case of Jewish festivals such as Pesach/Passover, a "full" festival day, meaning the full application of Jewish law for that festival day or holiday applies to that day). The Havdalah ceremony is only performed when passing from a higher time period of holiness to a lower time period of holiness, not vice- versa. Therefore, when a Yom Tov day is followed by a Shabbat day, meaning one is passing from a comparatively lesser level of holy time to a higher level of holy time, then the full Havdalah ceremony is performed at the conclusion of Shabbat at nightfall on Saturday evening. The three levels of time in terms of holiness in Judaism are as follows: (1) the highest level of holiness time: Shabbat; (2) the next highest level of holy time: a Yom Tov day, and finally (3) the lowest level of holy time or in other words, ordinary time, the secular weekdays. In this case, the full Havdalah ceremony is performed to separate or distinguish the holy time of Shabbat from the secular weekdays.
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| 5th Day of Chol HaMoed: (Erev Yom Tov, meaning "the Day Before the Holiday" in Hebrew; in this case, the 7th day of Pesach/Passover is a "full" festival day, meaning the full application of Jewish law for a Yom Tov day for Pesach/Passover applies to that day) | Saturday, March 30th, 2013 (Nightfall Saturday to Nightfall Sunday = 20th of Nissan) | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
- Since we are not permitted by Jewish law to create a new flame on Yom Tov, we therefore must kindle a new flame before the Yom Tov day and use this new flame to kindle two Yom Tov candles at the start of the Yom Tov day, so that one can use this flame that existed before Yom Tov to not only kindle the two Yom Tov candles on the seventh day of Passover/Pesach, but also to have this flame that existed before Yom Tov available to use to re-kindle the Yom Tov candles in case one or both of the Yom Tov candles on the seventh day of Passover/Pesach accidentally burn out. To achieve this, one must prepare and kindle a candle that must be safely lit from the time we kindled it just before Yom Tov begins to at least until the time when we need to use it to kindle the two Yom Tov candles either just after sunset or just after nightfall when Yom Tov begins. One can use a 26-hour Yahrtzeit candle [Yahrtzeit literally means "(a) year's time" or "time (of) year" in Yiddish, meaning another year has passed I.E. an anniversary; in this context, an anniversary of the passing of a close relative; colloquially, an annual time of memorial] I.E. a Memorial candle for this activity. The 26-hour Yahrtzeit candle or Memorial candle will be used to light the two Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) candles on the 7th day of Passover/Pesach, either just after sunset or just after nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
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| Final Days of the Pesach/Passover festival |
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| 7th Day of Pesach/Passover (Shvi'i Shel Pesach or Shevi'i Shel Pesach) | Sunday, March 31st, 2013 (Nightfall Sunday to Nightfall Monday = 21st of Nissan) | - Either just after sunset or just after nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows, Yom Tov has begun, but we must officially begin Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) by performing the recitation of the Yom Tov blessing and we must also kindle two Yom Tov candles.
- The two Yom Tov candles for the seventh day of Pesach/Passover are kindled with a pre-existing flame, meaning a flame that was already in existence by having been lit before Yom Tov; that is, one can use the flame of the aforementioned 26-hour Yahrtzeit candle.
- Reciting the Yom Tov blessing before or after kindling the Yom Tov candles: There is a Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must recite the Yom Tov blessing before kindling the Yom Tov candles. On Shabbat, or the Sabbath, one first kindles the two Shabbat candles and then one recites the Shabbat blessing, so that one may be able to re-kindle the Shabbat candles if one or both of them accidentally burn out, since Shabbat does not officially begin until the Shabbat blessing is recited. Since some Jewish people prefer to follow the same order of kindling candles for Yom Tov and then reciting the blessing for Yom Tov as they do for Shabbat while fulfilling the Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must first recite the blessing for Yom Tov and then kindle the Yom Tov candles, they fulfill both by first kindling the two candles - which are not yet Yom Tov candles since one did not yet recite the blessing for Yom Tov - and then they recite the Yom Tov blessing with one's eyes either closed or with one's hands covering one's eyes. After the person finishes reciting the Yom Tov blessing, Yom Tov has officially begun, and the person then either opens their eyes or removes their hands from their eyes to view for the first time on this Yom Tov what are now the two Yom Tov candles. This method fulfills both the custom to follow the order of first kindling the candles and then reciting the blessing on Yom Tov as is done for Shabbat, as well as to first recite the blessing for Yom Tov while shielding one's eyes from the two candles and then viewing the two Yom Tov candles for the first time after reciting the Yom Tov blessing. Yom Tov blessing: The following standard Yom Tov blessing is as follows in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olam A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holiday (or in this case, festival day).
The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season. Next, the Kiddush ["Sanctification (of the Hebrews by G-d)" in Hebrew] is recited in order to formally begin the festive meal for Yom Tov for the 7th day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush comprises the Blessing Over The Wine followed by the Kiddush Blessing.
Here is the blessing over the wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
Next, the Kiddush blessing is recited:
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath and} Your holy festivals {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love and favor}, in gladness and joy, have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath,} Israel and the festive seasons.
The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season. In certain Chassidic traditions such as the Chabad-Lubavitch tradition, it is a custom to remain awake all night on the seventh day of Pesach/Passover until dawn while studying about and celebrating the miracle of the "splitting" of the Red Sea or the "Sea of Reeds" ("Yam Suf" in Hebrew) as well as engage in Torah study in general. When dawn arrives, water is poured on the floor and then those that were studying all night about the miracles of the "splitting" of the Red Sea or the "Sea of Reeds" dance in the water until it dries up. - Yizkor Memorial Service ["Yizkor" means "May (G-d) Remember" in Hebrew, it is from the Hebrew root word "zakhor", meaning "remember"]; after the Yizkor Memorial Service, for certain Chassidim such as the Chabad-Lubavitch sect, there is a special meal eaten late in the afternoon known as the "Seudas Moshiach", meaning "feast (or meal) for Messiah". Although this meal comes at the close of Pesach/Passover, the Chabad-Lubavitch believe that it represents an historic beginning in that on the final day of Pesach/Passover, the Haftarah scriptural reading from the Book of Isaiah introduces a prophetic vision of the glorious era of the Moshiach, who will return all Jews to Israel from our exile. In essence, the Chabad-Lubavitch believe that Pesach/Passover did not end with the Exodus but is a continuous process that began with Moses and will end with the arrival of Moshiach or the Messiah. They believe that one is incomplete without the other. The "Seudas Moshiach" festive meal is celebrated by eating matzah and drinking four cups of wine around a table and saying "L'Chayim!" ("To Life!" in Hebrew), which is a salutation for best wishes. This ritual was introduced by the Chassidic founder, the "Baal Shem Tov" and later Chassidic Sages, where participants join together around a table to express their thoughts, yearnings, hopes, feelings, and belief in the coming redemption. The festive meal concludes with the singing of melodies and tunes and ends on a high note with the fervant hope of Jewish faith in the future.
- The Pesach/Passover festival ends at either sunset or at nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
- After the Pesach/Passover festival ends, one has to wait for the leaven/chametz to be bought back by the Rabbi that one follows, so to make sure that the leaven/chametz was bought back by the rabbi that one follows, avoid eating chametz for approximately 1 hour after nightfall.
- After the end of the 7th day of Pesach/Passover at either sunset or at nightfall: Performing a partial version of the Havdalah ceremony: When a Yom Tov day is immediately followed by a secular weekday, then a partial version of the full Havdalah ceremony is performed after Yom Tov ends at either sunset or at nightfall and before midnight to separate or distinguish the comparatively higher level of holy time that characterizes a Yom Tov day from the ordinary time of the secular weekdays. The partial Havdalah ceremony involves just the reciting of the Havdalah blessing over a cup of wine, and omits the use of the Havdalah candle(s) and the spice box containing the spices/herbs as well as the omission of the associated blessing for each, that is, the blessing for fire, and the blessing for the spices/herbs.
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| Isru Chag (literally means "bind the festival" in Hebrew) | Monday, April 1st, 2013 (Nightfall Monday to Nightfall Tuesday = 22nd of Nissan) | - "Isru Chag" is a day that was created by the people of Israel in order to bask one more day in the close feelings to G-d and in the spiritual joy of the Pesach/Passover festival. It serves as a bridge between the lofty holiness of the Pesach/Passover festival and descending back into the mundane activities of everyday life. "Isru Chag" (or "Isru Hag") is also a day which the people of Israel created to traditionally depart from Jerusalem and return to their homes after gathering for the "Shalosh Regalim" (the three pilgrimmage festivals of Pesach/Passover, Shavuoth, and Sukkoth). For observant Jews, this also means that they return to putting on tefillin (phylacteries) for the morning prayers.
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The following table represents the Passover calendar / Pesach calendar for those who celebrate Pesach / Passover for 8 days:
| Date in Jewish/Hebrew Calendar |
Date in Gregorian/Christian Calendar |
Religious Activity/Activities |
| 14th Nissan: Erev Pesach ("the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) (Nightfall Sunday to Nightfall Monday = 14th of Nissan) | Sunday, March 24th, 2013 (Nightfall Sunday to Nightfall Monday = 14th of Nissan) | - Bedikat Chametz - "Search For Leaven", meaning chametz, using a candle and feather. This year, Bedikat Chametz is performed either just after sunset or just after nightfall on Sunday, March 24th, 2013, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows. Recite the Bedikat Chametz blessing prior to the search, and then recite the Kol Chamira or "nullification of all leaven" blessing immediately after the search (Kol Chamira or Chol Chamira means "nullification of all leaven" in Aramaic). Reciting "Kol Chamira" also fulfills G-ds' commandment of "Bitul Chametz", meaning the "mental nullification of all leaven" in Hebrew, which means that one eliminates one's mental concerns about any chametz in the household. [Note: if the day before the Passover festival falls on Shabbat (this is not the case for this year), then Bedikat Chametz - usually performed either after sunset or after nightfall in the final evening before the start of Passover, that is, the final evening whereupon the next evening is the start of Passover (meaning the start of Erev Pesach, "the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) - is instead moved back one day to either after sunset or after nightfall on Thursday evening, on the 13th day of Nissan].
- Ta'anit Bekhorot (Ta'anit Bekhorot means "Fast of the First-Borns" in Hebrew). The first-born male in each Jewish family fasts for 1 day - from sunrise until sunset on the day before Passover - in commemoration of the 10th plague of Passover, in which G-d spared the first born male in every Jewish household in Egypt, and instead slew the first born in every Egyptian household. If there is no first born male in a Jewish household, then the oldest male in the family fasts. If there are no children, then the oldest member of the family fasts. This is done because all Egyptian families were affected by G-d's wrath, whether or not they had a first born son. This fast is also in memory of the slain first born Egyptian males, and symbolizes the gratitude of the first born males of Jewish households to G-d as well as serves as a reminder of G-d's might and power. However, first born Jewish males can be exempted from the Ta'anit Bekhorot by attending a siyyum bekhorot. Siyyum means "the celebration held after the public completion of study of a tractate of the Talmud or at the end of a year of study" in Hebrew, and siyyum bekhorot means "the celebration held after the public completion of study of a tractate of the Talmud or at the end of a year of study for first borns" in Hebrew. This celebration usually involves eating at a feast. The siyyum bekhorot is done so that the obligation or mitzvah to hold a celebration will override the minor obligation or mitzvah to fast on the day before Passover. The siyyum bekhorot is done on the morning before Passover (14th Nissan), with the ritual of burning the leaven (called "Biur Chametz" in Hebrew; "Biur" literally means "destruction" in Hebrew; especially, "destruction by fire") done soon after that, and before the morning is over. [Note: if the day before the Passover festival falls on Shabbat (this is not the case for this year), then Ta'anit Bekhorot - usually performed on Erev Pesach ("the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) - is instead moved back to the final Thursday before the start of Passover, on the 12th day of Nissan]
- The eating of leaven must stop before about 4 hours after sunrise. The time of sunrise will vary depending on one's latitude and on where one is located in the world. Therefore, morning prayers should be completed as early as possible so that one can finish eating chametz at the breakfast meal before the religiously appointed time to stop eating chametz in one's geographical location.
- Biur Chametz [literally "destruction (of the) leaven" in Hebrew; especially, "destruction by fire"] - burning of leaven/chametz. This must be done before about 5 hours after sunrise. The time of sunrise will vary depending on one's latitude and on where one is located in the world. This ritual is performed if one still finds chametz in one's possession and/or household even after performing Bedikat Chametz. After destroying the leaven by burning it, the bracha ("blessing" in Hebrew) and Kol Chamira that was performed for the Bedikat Chametz ritual are repeated here. [Note: if the day before the Passover festival falls on Shabbat (this is not the case for this year), then Biur Chametz - usually performed on the 14th day of Nissan which is Erev Pesach ("the Day Before Passover" in Hebrew) - is instead performed one day earlier, on the 13th day of Nissan.
- For Jewish people who celebrate Passover / Pesach for 8 days, the first two days and the final two days of Passover / Pesach are Yom Tov days, meaning "full" holidays (technically-speaking, since Passover / Pesach is a festival, Yom Tov days during Passover / Pesach are called "full" festival days), meaning the full application of Jewish law for Passover / Pesach applies to those days. Since there are two consecutive Yom Tov days at the beginning and end of Passover / Pesach and since we are not permitted by Jewish law to create a new flame on Yom Tov (in addition to Shabbat/the Sabbath), we therefore must kindle a new flame before the first Yom Tov day and use this new flame to kindle two Yom Tov candles at the start of the 1st Yom Tov day and two more Yom Tov candles at the start of the second Yom Tov day. To achieve this, one must prepare and kindle a candle that must be safely lit for more than 48 hours, so that one can use this flame that existed before Yom Tov to not only kindle the two Yom Tov candles on the first day and two more Yom Tov candles on the second day of Passover/Pesach, but also to have this flame that existed before Yom Tov available to use to re-kindle the Yom Tov candles for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach or the Yom Tov candles for the second day of Passover / Pesach in case one or both of the Yom Tov candles on either the first day of Passover / Pesach or Yom Tov candles on the second day of Passover/Pesach accidentally burn out. To accomplish this, the new flame that exists before Yom Tov can be a 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle [Yahrtzeit literally means "(a) year's time" or "time (of) year" in Yiddish, meaning another year has passed I.E. an anniversary; in this context, an anniversary of the passing of a close relative; colloquially, an annual time of memorial] I.E. a Memorial candle. The 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle or Memorial candle will be used to light the two Yom Tov candles on the 1st day of Passover/Pesach and the two Yom Tov candles on the 2nd day of Passover/Pesach, either just after sunset or just after nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
- Candle-lighting time for Yom Tov in 2013: Traditionally, Yom Tov candles (as well as Shabbat/Sabbath candles) are lit either just after sunset or just after nightfall depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows. However, since there is a custom to "extend" the time for Yom Tov for being the next highest level of holiness time after Shabbat/the Sabbath by "borrowing" time from the day previous to Yom Tov and the day following Yom Tov and adding that time onto the beginning and ending of Yom Tov respectively (same idea for Shabbat/the Sabbath, where time is "borrowed" from the day previous to and following Shabbat/the Sabbath and added to Shabbat/the Sabbath), most Jewish people light the Yom Tov candles (as well as Shabbat/Sabbath candles) anywhere from 15 minutes to a half-hour before sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows. The most popular time to light Yom Tov candles (as well as Shabbat/Sabbath candles) are at 18 minutes before sunset. Therefore, most Jewish people will kindle either the Yom Tov candles or in the case of it being Shabbat/the Sabbath, the Shabbat/Sabbath candles at 18 minutes before sunset. Again, the time of sunset will vary depending on one's latitude and on where one is located in the world.
Candle-lighting for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover: Before kindling the lights for Yom Tov, recite the following blessing for Yom Tov:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast hallowed us by thy commandments, and hast commanded us to kindle the Festival light. The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season.
The following is the Kiddush for Yom Tov (either a Jewish festival day or a Jewish holiday). The Kiddush is recited in order to formally begin a festive meal; in this case, for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush for Yom Tov comprises the Yayin ("Wine" in Hebrew) blessing, followed by the Kiddush blessing for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover:
Here is the blessing over the wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
The Kiddush Blessing for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover is as follows:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has chosen us from among all nations, raised us above all tongues, and sanctified us by His commandments. And You, G-d, have given us lovingly {on the Sabbath, say the following: Sabbaths for rest}, festivals for rejoicing, holidays and seasons for gladness, {on the Sabbath, say the following: this Sabbath day and} this day of the Feast of Matzos, this day of holy assembly, the season of our freedom {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love}, a holy assembly commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath and} Your holy festivals {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love and favor}, in gladness and joy, have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath,} Israel and the festive seasons.
The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season.
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| Pesach/Passover 5773 |
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| 1st Day of Pesach/Passover | Monday, March 25th, 2013 (Nightfall Monday to Nightfall Tuesday = 15th of Nissan) | - When does Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach begin? The answer is that Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach begins either just after sunset or just after nightfall, or if one follows the custom to "extend" the day of either Yom Tov or Shabbat/the Sabbath by "borrowing" time from the day previous to Yom Tov (and adding it to the beginning of Yom Tov, meaning Yom Tov will begin earlier than the traditional time of starting just after sunset or just after nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this starting time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a half-hour before sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows) and by "borrowing" time from the day following Yom Tov (meaning time from the day following Yom Tov is appended to the Yom Tov day, extending the Yom Tov day beyond its traditional ending time of sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this ending time can be anywhere up to a half-hour after sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows). Though Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach have begun, we must officially begin Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) by performing the recitation of the Yom Tov blessing and we must also kindle two Yom Tov candles.
- The two Yom Tov candles for the first day of Pesach/Passover are kindled with a pre-existing flame, meaning a flame that was already in existence by having been lit before Yom Tov; that is, one can use the flame of the aforementioned 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle.
Reciting the Yom Tov blessing before or after kindling the Yom Tov candles: There is a Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must recite the Yom Tov blessing before kindling the Yom Tov candles. On Shabbat/the Sabbath, one first kindles the two Shabbat candles and then one recites the Shabbat blessing, so that one may be able to re-kindle the Shabbat candles if one or both of them accidentally burn out, since Shabbat does not officially begin until the Shabbat blessing is recited. Since some Jewish people prefer to follow the same order of kindling candles for Yom Tov and then reciting the blessing for Yom Tov as they do for Shabbat while fulfilling the Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must first recite the blessing for Yom Tov and then kindle the Yom Tov candles, they fulfill both by first kindling the two candles - which are not yet Yom Tov candles since one did not yet recite the blessing for Yom Tov - and then they recite the Yom Tov blessing with one's eyes either closed or with one's hands covering one's eyes. After the person finishes reciting the Yom Tov blessing, Yom Tov has officially begun, and the person then either opens their eyes or removes their hands from their eyes to view for the first time on this Yom Tov what are now the two Yom Tov candles. This method fulfills both the custom to follow the order of first kindling the candles and then reciting the blessing on Yom Tov as is done for Shabbat, as well as to first recite the blessing for Yom Tov while shielding one's eyes from the two candles and then viewing the two Yom Tov candles for the first time after reciting the Yom Tov blessing.
Yom Tov blessing:
The following Yom Tov blessing is in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olam A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holiday (or in this case, festival day). The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season.
Next, the Kiddush ["Sanctification (of the Hebrews by G-d)" in Hebrew] is recited in order to formally begin the festive meal for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush comprises the Blessing Over The Wine followed by the Kiddush Blessing.
Here is the blessing over the wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
Next, the Kiddush Blessing is recited in order to formally begin a festive meal. The following is the Kiddush blessing for Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has chosen us from among all nations, raised us above all tongues, and sanctified us by His commandments. And You, G-d, have given us lovingly {on the Sabbath, say the following: Sabbaths for rest}, festivals for rejoicing, holidays and seasons for gladness, {on the Sabbath, say the following: this Sabbath day and} this day of the Feast of Matzos, this day of holy assembly, the season of our freedom {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love}, a holy assembly commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath and} Your holy festivals {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love and favor}, in gladness and joy, have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath,} Israel and the festive seasons.
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season. - The first Seder begins either just after sunset or just after nightfall, meaning after the lighting of the two Yom Tov candles and after the Ma'ariv or Arvit ("Evening" in Hebrew) prayer service. Refer to the Passover/Pesach Haggadah for step-by-step instructions on how to conduct the 15 ordered steps that comprise the Seder. There are over 3,000 versions of the Passover/Pesach Haggadah, with each version being based on the political, social, and/or religious philosophies in Judaism that one follows, but the structure and order of the 15 steps are always the same for each version. The reason for the variety of versions in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah is that rabbis down through the ages have encouraged the "telling" and interpretation of the Passover/Pesach story in as many ways as possible so that the timeless messages contained in the Passover/Pesach story could be understood and appreciated by as many people as possible since these are messages that all human beings can relate to and learn from.
- After starting the Pesach/Passover Seder following the lighting of the Yom Tov candles, the first 1 oz. of matzah should be eaten within 4 minutes from the start of the Pesach/Passover Seder.
- The first day of Pesach/Passover ends either at sunset or at nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
Havdalah for when a Jewish holiday falls on a Saturday evening, either when it is the start of a holiday or when it is the second day of a holiday: In our case, for those who celebrate Pesach / Passover for 8 days, Havdalah for Shabbat on which Yom Tov for the 1st day of Pesach / Passover falls requires the blending of the Shabbat Havdalah rituals into the Kiddush ritual for Yom Tov for the 2nd day of Pesach / Passover. The entire text of the Kiddush/Havdalah when a Jewish holiday falls on a Saturday night can be found either in a standard Jewish prayer book or in a machzor, that is, a Jewish holiday prayer book. The special Havdalah candle that is made up of two intertwined candles and used for the standard Havdalah ritual is replaced by the two standard candles for the Yom Tov day or holiday, placed on the table. Some have the custom of conjoining the two Yom Tov candles but others do not conjoin them. Furthermore, sweet spices, and the smelling of the sweet spices that are part of the standard Havdalah ritual are not used for Havdalah when it is incorporated into the Kiddush ritual for when a Jewish holiday/Yom Tov day falls on a Saturday night. The following is the order of the Kiddush/Havdalah for when a Jewish holiday/Yom Tov day falls on a Saturday night: (1) The Blessing Over The Wine (Yayin Blessing; Yayin means "Wine" in Hebrew); (2) The Kiddush Blessing for the Yom Tov day/holiday; (3) The Blessing Over Fire/The Blessing Over The Candle; (4) The Havdalah Blessing, with this version of the Havdalah Blessing being different than the standard Shabbat Havdalah Blessing, and (5) The Shehecheyanu Blessing [recited only on the first day of Pesach / Passover (a Yom Tov day/holiday) if one celebrates Pesach / Passover for 7 days or on the first two days of Pesach / Passover (both Yom Tov days/holidays) if one celebrates Pesach / Passover for 8 days; the Shehecheyanu Blessing is not recited on the 7th day of Pesach / Passover or the 8th day of Pesach / Passover regardless of whether one celebrates Pesach / Passover for 7 days or 8 days]. Note: There are several activities that are forbidden on Shabbat but permissible on a Yom Tov day/holiday. All these forbidden activities on Shabbat cannot be performed until one verbally "separates" the day of Shabbat from the day of the holiday/Yom Tov day. This verbal declaration can be done two ways: (1) either before reciting the Kiddush/Havdalah, in the Amidah prayer for the night's prayers where a special Havdalah-themed paragraph called the Va'to-de'aynu in Hebrew is inserted into the Amidah which is the collective name for a series of 19 blessings that is central to the Jewish prayer service ("Amidah" means "Standing" in Hebrew since the 19 blessings are recited while standing), or (2) one can say: "Baruch hamavdil bayn kodesh likodesh" which from Hebrew means: "Blessed is the One who separates between (the) holiness (of Shabbat) and (the) holiness (of the holiday)." Finally, immediately after reciting the Blessing Over The Fire/Blessing Over The Candle, there is a custom followed by some to only gaze at the candles without looking at one's fingernails so as to ensure that the first thing one sees upon reciting the Blessing Over The Fire/Blessing Over The Candle are the candles and not any reflection of the candles on the fingernails.
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| 2nd Day of Pesach/Passover | Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 (Nightfall Tuesday to Nightfall Wednesday = 16th of Nissan) | When does Yom Tov for the 2nd day of Passover / Pesach begin? The answer is that Yom Tov for the 2nd day of Passover / Pesach begins when Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach ends and this occurs either just after sunset or just after nightfall or if one follows the custom to "extend" the day of Yom Tov by "borrowing" time from the day previous to Yom Tov and the day following Yom Tov and then adding the time from the previous day to the beginning of Yom Tov and then appending the "borrowed" time from the day following Yom Tov to the end of Yom Tov, with the amount of time appended being anywhere up to a half-hour after sunset or nightfall depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
Though Yom Tov for the 2nd day of Passover / Pesach has begun based on the time, we must officially begin Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) by performing the recitation of the Yom Tov blessing and we must also kindle two Yom Tov candles. - The two Yom Tov candles for the second day of Pesach/Passover are kindled with a pre-existing flame, meaning a flame that was already in existence by having been lit before Yom Tov for the 2nd day of Passover / Pesach and before Yom Tov for the 1st day of Passover / Pesach; that is, one can use the flame of the aforementioned 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle.
- Reciting the Yom Tov blessing before or after kindling the Yom Tov candles: There is a Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must recite the Yom Tov blessing before kindling the Yom Tov candles. On Shabbat, or the Sabbath, one first kindles the two Shabbat candles and then one recites the Shabbat blessing, so that one may be able to re-kindle the Shabbat candles if one or both of them accidentally burn out, since Shabbat does not officially begin until the Shabbat blessing is recited. Since some Jewish people prefer to follow the same order of kindling candles for Yom Tov and then reciting the blessing for Yom Tov as they do for Shabbat while fulfilling the Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must first recite the blessing for Yom Tov and then kindle the Yom Tov candles, they fulfill both by first kindling the two candles - which are not yet Yom Tov candles since one did not yet recite the blessing for Yom Tov - and then they recite the Yom Tov blessing with one's eyes either closed or with one's hands covering one's eyes. After the person finishes reciting the Yom Tov blessing, Yom Tov has officially begun, and the person then either opens their eyes or removes their hands from their eyes to view for the first time on this Yom Tov what are now the two Yom Tov candles. This method fulfills both the custom to follow the order of first kindling the candles and then reciting the blessing on Yom Tov as is done for Shabbat, as well as to first recite the blessing for Yom Tov while shielding one's eyes from the two candles and then viewing the two Yom Tov candles for the first time after reciting the Yom Tov blessing.
Yom Tov Blessing:
The following standard Yom Tov Blessing is as follows in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me- lech Ho-olam A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holiday (or in this case, festival day).
The Kiddush ["Sanctification (of the Hebrews by G-d)" in Hebrew] is recited in order to formally begin the festive meal for Yom Tov for the 2nd day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush comprises the Blessing Over The Wine followed by the Kiddush Blessing.
Here is the Blessing Over The Wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the Universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
Next, the Kiddush Blessing is recited:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd Our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast chosen us from all peoples, and sanctified us from among all the nations, and hallowed us by thy commandments. And thou hast given us in love, O L-rd Our G-d {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath for rest, and} Your holy festivals for gladness, and sacred seasons for joy: {on the Sabbath, say the following: this Sabbath day and}, this day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Season Of Our Freedom [in love]; a holy convocation, as a memorial of the departure from Egypt; for thou hast chosen us and hallowed us above all peoples, and thy holy {on the Sabbath, say Sabbath and} festivals thou hast granted us as a heritage [in love and favor] in joy and gladness. Blessed art Thou, O L-rd, who sanctifies {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath,} Israel and the festive seasons.
The Shehecheyanu ("Who Has Kept Us In Life" in Hebrew) blessing: Depending on one's custom, the Shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing that thanks G-d for sustaining us (the Hebrews/Jewish people) and enabling us to reach this season or this special time, is recited either immediately following the Yom Tov blessing or immediately following the Kiddush blessing of the Kiddush and immediately before the beginning of the Pesach / Passover Seder as stated in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah which is the "instruction manual" for conducting the Passover/Pesach Seder ("Haggadah" means either "Telling" or "Narration" in Hebrew, meaning it contains the telling or narration of the Passover/Pesach story and also that one should tell or narrate the Passover/Pesach story to others).
The Shehecheyanu blessing is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast kept us in life, and (or who) hast preserved us, and (hast) enabled us to reach this season. - This is the second evening of the Pesach/Passover festival, and that means the "Counting of the Omer" begins on this evening. The "Counting of the Omer" is recited during each of the next 49 evenings starting on this evening at the end of the Ma'ariv or Arvit ("Evening" in Hebrew) prayer service up to and including the evening before the festival of Shavuot/Shavuoth/Shavuos on the 50th day.
- After the lighting of the two Yom Tov candles and after the Ma'ariv or Arvit ("Evening" in Hebrew) prayer service, the second Seder is performed. Regarding the second Seder, repeat as was done for the 1st day of Pesach/Passover, with the exception - as mentioned - that one omits the Shehecheyanu blessing. Refer to the Passover/Pesach Haggadah for step-by-step instructions on how to conduct the 15 ordered steps that comprise the Seder. There are over 3,000 versions of the Passover/Pesach Haggadah, with each version being based on the political, social, and/or religious philosophies in Judaism that one follows, but the structure and order of the 15 steps are always the same for each version. The reason for the variety of versions in the Passover/Pesach Haggadah is that rabbis down through the ages have encouraged the "telling" and interpretation of the Passover/Pesach story in as many ways as possible so that the timeless messages contained in the Passover/Pesach story could be understood and appreciated by as many people as possible since these are messages that all human beings can relate to and learn from.
- After starting the Pesach/Passover Seder following the lighting of the Yom Tov candles, the first 1 oz. of matzah should be eaten within 4 minutes from the start of the Pesach/Passover Seder.
- The second day of Pesach/Passover ends either at sunset or at nightfall, but since the next day is Shabbat, or the Sabbath, and we extend Shabbat by "borrowing" anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour of time before sunset on Friday (most start Shabbat at least 18 minutes before sunset), then the second day of Pesach/Passover ends just before Shabbat begins at whichever time one chooses to start Shabbat, based on one's custom.
- After the end of the 2nd day of Pesach/Passover at either sunset or at nightfall: Performing a partial version of the Havdalah ceremony: When a Yom Tov day is immediately followed by a secular weekday, then a partial version of the full Havdalah ceremony is performed after Yom Tov ends at either sunset or at nightfall and before midnight to separate or distinguish the comparatively higher level of holy time that characterizes a Yom Tov day from the ordinary time of the secular weekdays. The partial Havdalah ceremony involves just the reciting of the Havdalah blessing over a cup of wine, and omits the use of the Havdalah candle(s) and the spice box containing the spices/herbs as well as the omission of the associated blessing for each, that is, the blessing for fire, and the blessing for the spices/herbs.
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| Chol HaMoed (Intermediate Days of the Pesach/Passover festival) |
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| 1st Day of Chol HaMoed | Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 (Nightfall Wednesday to Nightfall Thursday = 17th of Nissan) | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- During Chol HaMoed days, it is customary to drink either a glass of wine or a glass of grape juice each day to commemorate the Passover festival.
- During Chol HaMoed days, we continue to consume Kosher for Passover foods and drinks.
- During Chol Hamoed days, we can perform work as long as the type of work we perform does not fall under the 39 forms of forbidden work.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
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| 2nd Day of Chol HaMoed | Thursday, March 28th, 2013 (Nightfall Thursday to Nightfall Friday = 18th of Nissan); Erev Shabbat ["Day Before (the) Sabbath" in Hebrew] | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
- Shabbat Laws: Shabbat begins at 18 minutes before sea level sunset, for those who follow that authoritative rabbinical opinion. Others may follow other authoritative rabbinical opinions, which state that Shabbat or the Sabbath can begin anywhere from 15 minutes before sea level sunset up to a half hour before sea level sunset. Technically-speaking, the Jewish day ends at either sunset or nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows, but with the holiness of Shabbat, the rabbis extended the time of Shabbat by adding time from the day prior to and following Shabbat, meaning Shabbat begins anywhere from 15 minutes up to a half hour prior to sunset and ends about a half hour after nightfall.
- In the afternoon on the day before Shabbat (this day), and prior to lighting the two Shabbat candles, it is customary to recite the Minchah (afternoon prayer service) prayer and then put some money into a charity box ("tzedakah pushkah", where "tzedakah" means "charity" in Hebrew, and "pushkah" means either "box" or "can" in Yiddish).
- Preparing for Shabbat: Secure two Shabbat candles in their candle holders prior to the time for lighting the Shabbat candles. Why two Shabbat candles? The two Shabbat candles represent the two times that Shabbat is commanded to be observed in the Torah; specifically, the two times that the 4th Commandment is mentioned in the Torah: (1) in the 4th Commandment: "Remember ("Zachor" in Hebrew) the Sabbath Day to keep it holy" (Shemot or Exodus 20:7), and (2) "And thou shalt remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and the L-RD thy G-d brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the L-RD thy G-d commanded thee to keep (observe = "Shamor" in Hebrew) the Sabbath day" (Devarim or Deuteronomy 5:14).
- What is the purpose of the two Shabbat candles? There are two principal purposes of the Shabbat candles: (1) to bring "Shalom Bayit" ("harmony in the home" in Hebrew), which is symbolized by the Shabbat candles bringing both the light and candle light into the household for the Friday evening Shabbat meal, which in turn creates a specific atmosphere, and (2) the Shabbat candles bring "Oneg Shabbat" ("the Joy of the Sabbath" in Hebrew) into the household by representing both the light and happiness that Shabbat gives to us. Therefore, to achieve both of these goals or purposes, the two Shabbat candles are placed and kindled where the Friday evening Shabbat meal will take place.
- Select a place where the Shabbat candles will remain throughout the entire time period of Shabbat, and before lighting the two candles, make sure to have a match and a matchbook placed next to the two candles. When it comes time to kindle the two Shabbat candles, bring the family together to observe the event.
- As mentioned, there are different authoritative rabbinical opinions as to when Shabbat begins: most rabbis and Jewish people follow the opinion to begin Shabbat at least 18 minutes before sunset whereas other rabbinical opinions state that Shabbat can begin either at 15 minutes before sunset or anywhere up to a half hour before sunset. The exact time for Shabbat candle-lighting depends on one's geographic latitude and on where one is located in the world.
- Since Shabbat begins after the blessing for Shabbat is recited, and since it is forbidden by Jewish law to create a new flame on Shabbat, we cannot recite the Shabbat blessing before striking a match to kindle the two Shabbat candles, since the result of successfully striking a match would create a new flame, forbidden during Shabbat. Therefore, we follow the subsequent order for formally beginning Shabbat: At the aforementioned time one follows for starting Shabbat, the person who recites the Shabbat blessing lights the two Shabbat candles. This is traditionally performed by the woman of the household, since this commandment ("mitzvah" in Hebrew) is just one of the many commandments that have been given to women to perform in Jewish law. Although each Jewish person is obligated to kindle the two Shabbat candles, when both males and females are present at the kindling of the two Shabbat candles, the woman of the household has lit the two Shabbat candles on behalf of all who are present, due to being assigned this obligation in Jewish law. If no women are present, then the male can kindle the Shabbat candles and recite the associated Shabbat blessing and kiddush.
- After lighting the Sabbath candles, the woman (and all who are present at the Shabbat ceremony) then welcomes in a special guest known as the "Sabbath Queen" ["Shabbat Ha-Malka" in Hebrew), who, in Jewish mystical tradition, is the "Shechinah" (the "dwelling" or the "settling" in Hebrew, meaning the dwelling or settling presence of G-d, especially in the Temple in Jerusalem, but also a dwelling or settling in a special sense, meaning a dwelling or settling of divine presence, to the effect that, while in proximity to the Shechinah, the connection to G-d is more readily perceivable. The Sabbath Queen, being the Shechinah, is the nurturing and loving Divine Presence that expresses the "feminine" aspects of G-d - the Compassionate One.)]. How does the woman, as well as all who are present at the Shabbat ceremony, welcome in the Sabbath Queen? She/they do this by first stretching her/their hands out towards the candles. Then she/they move her/their hands inward in a circular motion and she/they perform this circular motion three times, which represents the ushering in of the Sabbath Queen. Following this, only the woman who is reciting the Shabbat blessing then covers her eyes with her hands or simply closes her eyes and recites the following Sabbath blessing in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Ki-deshanu Be-mitzvo-tav Ve-tzvi-vanu Le-hadlik Ner Shel Shabbat.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to light the candle of Shabbat. [Note that when Yom Tov falls on Shabbat/the Sabbath (not the case in 2013), the traditional Shabbat/Sabbath blessing will include words about kindling the lights for Yom Tov and this replaces the traditional Shabbat/Sabbath blessing and Yom Tov blessing for their respective days]
After reciting the blessing, while the woman has her face covered by her hands or her eyes closed, it is customary for the woman to offer a private prayer for anything that she desires. Also, personal prayers of thanks can be silently offered at this point. After this private prayer is offered, the woman removes her hands from her face or opens her eyes to see the Shabbat candles for the first time on this Shabbat (remember, Shabbat does not begin until the Shabbat blessing has been recited) and says a traditional wish to all who are present. This wish is either a wish for a "Gut Shabbos" ("Good Sabbath" in Yiddish) or a wish for a "Shabbat Shalom" ["Sabbath (of) Peace" in Hebrew]. - Next, the woman recites the Kiddush for Shabbat [if Yom Tov falls on Shabbat (not the case in 2013), then the Kiddush blessing for Shabbat will include words about Yom Tov]. The Kiddush for Shabbat includes the Blessing Over The Wine followed by the Kiddush Blessing for Shabbat.
The Blessing Over The Wine is as follows: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
The Kiddush Blessing for Shabbat is as follows: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has chosen us from among all nations, raised us above all tongues, and sanctified us by His commandments. And You, G-d, have given us lovingly Sabbaths for rest {on a festival, say the following: festivals for rejoicing}, holidays and seasons for gladness, this Sabbath day {on Passover/Pesach, say the following: and this day of the Feast of Matzos, this day of holy assembly, the season of our freedom} in love, {on Passover/Pesach, say the following: a holy assembly commemorating the exodus from Egypt}.
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, the Sabbath and {on a festival, say the following: and Your holy festivals} in love and favor, in gladness and joy, have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies the Sabbath {on a festival, say the following: Israel and the festive seasons}. - Note that accepting Shabbat is on an individual basis, which means that each member of the household must accept Shabbat individually by each kindling two Shabbat candles. The most common custom is to kindle two Shabbat candles per member of a household. However, there is a custom that if a woman is married, she kindles two Shabbat candles, and if a woman is unmarried, she kindles one Shabbat candle.
- According to some authoritative rabbinical opinions, it is only after reciting the Kiddush blessing for Shabbat, rather than after reciting the Shabbat blessing, that Shabbat has officially begun for the woman who recited the Kiddush blessing for Shabbat, as well as for all males and females who were present for the Shabbat ceremony.
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| 3rd Day of Chol HaMoed | Friday, March 29th, 2013 (Nightfall Friday to Nightfall Saturday = 19th of Nissan) (Shabbat = Sabbath) | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
- Shabbos / Sabbath ends at either sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows (some Jewish communities like to extend Shabbat beyond sunset or nightfall to both extend and hopefully carry the spirit of Shabbat into the weekdays; this means that though the time for Shabbat is extended anywhere up to a half-hour after sunset or nightfall, many prefer to end the celebration of Shabbat sometime before midnight for the purpose of carrying the spirit of Shabbat into the weekdays).
- Performing the "full" Havdalah ceremony: Finally, on Saturday evening at nightfall (nightfall is defined in Jewish law as occurring either 72 minutes after sea level sunset or if it is a clear sky, when three medium-sized stars first appear and are sighted in the sky), the "full" Havdalah ceremony is performed (meaning all rituals contained in the Havdalah ceremony are performed). The full Havdalah ceremony - which is usually preceded by some verses from the Hebrew Bible - contains 4 blessings [Performed in the following order: (1) Blessing over the wine, (2) Blessing over the spices, (3) Blessing over the fire, and (4) The Havdalah blessing itself], either two Havdalah candles or two interwoven Havdalah candles that are joined at the wick, whichever is being used, a spice box containing either spices and/or herbs, a cup filled with wine, preferably red wine, and a small tray to hold the cup of wine. The full Havdalah ceremony is performed anytime from after nightfall to midnight on Saturday to formally usher out Shabbat (Shabbat actually ends at nightfall on Saturday but by Jewish law, we must formally usher it out, and as mentioned, there is a custom to extend Shabbat about a half hour beyond nightfall), but if for whatever reason one cannot perform the Havdalah ceremony by midnight on Saturday evening, then Havdalah can be performed anytime until Tuesday evening at nightfall, but without the use of the Havdalah candle(s) nor the spice box containing the spices and/or herbs, and the omission of the recitation of the associated blessing for each (that is, the blessing over the fire and the blessing over the spices/herbs, respectively). Havdalah ("separation" or "distinction" in Hebrew) is a formal way of separating or distinguishing the holy time of Shabbat from the ordinary time of the secular weekdays that follow Shabbat in order to demonstrate that Shabbat time is a different and more special kind of time than the time period for the secular weekdays, as Shabbat time gives us a taste or idea of what Messianic times will be like: in other words, one long, Shabbat - a time of eternal justice and peace for the Hebrew/Jewish people and ultimately, for all humanity. In Judaism, we work during the secular weekdays toward bringing about the perfection of the world which we get a taste of at the end of the week with Shabbat, which is an ever- constant reminder to us to strive during the secular weekdays toward bringing Messianic times upon us. The full Havdalah ceremony is performed when formally separating or distinguishing between either Shabbat and the secular weekdays, or between the higher holy time of Shabbat and the comparatively lesser holy time of a Yom Tov day ("Yom Tov" means "holiday" in Hebrew; in the case of Jewish festivals such as Pesach/Passover, a "full" festival day, meaning the full application of Jewish law for that festival day or holiday applies to that day). The Havdalah ceremony is only performed when passing from a higher time period of holiness to a lower time period of holiness, not vice- versa. Therefore, when a Yom Tov day is followed by a Shabbat day, meaning one is passing from a comparatively lesser level of holy time to a higher level of holy time, then the full Havdalah ceremony is performed at the conclusion of Shabbat at nightfall on Saturday evening. The three levels of time in terms of holiness in Judaism are as follows: (1) the highest level of holiness time: Shabbat; (2) the next highest level of holy time: a Yom Tov day, and finally (3) the lowest level of holy time or in other words, ordinary time, the secular weekdays. In this case, the full Havdalah ceremony is performed to separate or distinguish the holy time of Shabbat from the secular weekdays.
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| 4th Day of Chol HaMoed: (Erev Yom Tov, meaning "the Day Before the Holiday" in Hebrew; in this case, the 7th day of Pesach/Passover is a "full" festival day, meaning the full application of Jewish law for a Yom Tov day for Pesach/Passover applies to that day) | Saturday, March 30th, 2013 (Nightfall Saturday to Nightfall Sunday = 20th of Nissan) | - No Tefillin (phylacteries) are put on today.
- In addition to the morning prayer service (called "Shacharit" in Hebrew), a special additional prayer is recited called Hallel, Musaf for Pesach. ("Musaf" means "additional" in Hebrew)
- Since there are two consecutive Yom Tov days that follow this day - the seventh day of Passover/Pesach and the eighth day of Passover/Pesach - and since we are not permitted by Jewish law to create a new flame on Yom Tov, we therefore must kindle a new flame before the Yom Tov day for the seventh day of Passover/Pesach and use this new flame to kindle two Yom Tov candles at the start of the Yom Tov day for the seventh day of Passover/Pesach and two more Yom Tov candles at the start of the Yom Tov day for the eighth day of Passover/Pesach. To kindle the Yom Tov candles for the 7th day of Passover / Pesach and the Yom Tov candles for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach, one must prepare and kindle a candle that must be safely lit for more than 48 hours so that one can use this flame that existed before Yom Tov for the 7th day of Passover / Pesach and Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach to not only kindle the two Yom Tov candles on the seventh day and two more Yom Tov candles on the 8th day, but also to have this flame that existed before Yom Tov for the 7th day and Yom Tov for the 8th day available to use to re-kindle these candles in case any one of these four candles accidentally burn out. To achieve this, the new flame that exists before Yom Tov can be a 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle [Yahrtzeit literally means "(a) year's time" or "time (of) year" in Yiddish, meaning another year has passed I.E. an anniversary; in this context, an anniversary of the passing of a close relative; colloquially, an annual time of memorial] I.E. a Memorial candle. The 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle or Memorial candle will be used to light the two Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) candles on the 7th day of Passover/Pesach and the two Yom Tov candles on the 8th day of Passover/Pesach, either just after sunset or just after nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
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| Final Days of the Pesach/Passover festival |
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| 7th Day of Pesach/Passover (Shvi'i Shel Pesach or Shevi'i Shel Pesach) | Sunday, March 31st, 2013 (Nightfall Sunday to Nightfall Monday = 21st of Nissan) | When does Yom Tov for the 7th day of Passover / Pesach begin? The answer is that Yom Tov for the 7th day of Passover / Pesach begins either just after sunset or just after nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows, or if one follows the custom to "extend" the day of Yom Tov by "borrowing" time from the day previous to Yom Tov (and adding it to the beginning of Yom Tov, meaning Yom Tov will begin earlier than the traditional time of starting just after sunset or just after nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this starting time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a half-hour before sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows) and by "borrowing" time from the day following Yom Tov (meaning time from the day following Yom Tov is appended to the Yom Tov day, extending the Yom Tov day beyond its traditional ending time of sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this ending time can be anywhere up to a half-hour after sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows).
Though Yom Tov for the 7th day of Passover / Pesach has begun, we must officially begin Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) by performing the recitation of the Yom Tov blessing and we must also kindle two Yom Tov candles. - The two Yom Tov candles for the seventh day of Pesach/Passover are kindled with a pre-existing flame, meaning a flame that was already in existence by having been lit before Yom Tov; that is, one can use the flame of the aforementioned 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle.
- Reciting the Yom Tov blessing before or after kindling the Yom Tov candles: There is a Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must recite the Yom Tov blessing before kindling the Yom Tov candles. On Shabbat, or the Sabbath, one first kindles the two Shabbat candles and then one recites the Shabbat blessing, so that one may be able to re-kindle the Shabbat candles if one or both of them accidentally burn out, since Shabbat does not officially begin until the Shabbat blessing is recited. Since some Jewish people prefer to follow the same order of kindling candles for Yom Tov and then reciting the blessing for Yom Tov as they do for Shabbat while fulfilling the Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must first recite the blessing for Yom Tov and then kindle the Yom Tov candles, they fulfill both by first kindling the two candles - which are not yet Yom Tov candles since one did not yet recite the blessing for Yom Tov - and then they recite the Yom Tov blessing with one's eyes either closed or with one's hands covering one's eyes. After the person finishes reciting the Yom Tov blessing, Yom Tov has officially begun, and the person then either opens their eyes or removes their hands from their eyes to view for the first time on this Yom Tov what are now the two Yom Tov candles. This method fulfills both the custom to follow the order of first kindling the candles and then reciting the blessing on Yom Tov as is done for Shabbat, as well as to first recite the blessing for Yom Tov while shielding one's eyes from the two candles and then viewing the two Yom Tov candles for the first time after reciting the Yom Tov blessing.
Yom Tov blessing:
The following standard Yom Tov blessing is as follows in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me- lech Ho-olam A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
In English:
Blessed are You, L- rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holiday (or in this case, festival day).
Next, the Kiddush ["Sanctification (of the Hebrews by G-d)" in Hebrew] is recited in order to formally begin the festive meal for Yom Tov for the 7th day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush comprises the Blessing Over The Wine followed by the Kiddush Blessing.
Here is the blessing over the wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
Next, the Kiddush blessing is recited:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has chosen us from among all nations, raised us above all tongues, and sanctified us by His commandments. And You, G-d, have given us lovingly {on the Sabbath, say the following: Sabbaths for rest}, festivals for rejoicing, holidays and seasons for gladness, {on the Sabbath, say the following: this Sabbath day and} this day of the Feast of Matzos, this day of holy assembly, the season of our freedom {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love}, a holy assembly commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath and} Your holy festivals {on the Sabbath, say the following: in love and favor}, in gladness and joy, have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies {on the Sabbath, say the following: the Sabbath,} Israel and the festive seasons.
No Shehecheyanu Blessing is recited on Yom Tov for the 7th day and 8th day of Passover / Pesach since we have already blessed the season on the first two Yom Tov days of Passover / Pesach; that is, the 1st day and 2nd day of Passover / Pesach. - The 7th day of Passover/Pesach is a Yom Tov day and is followed by another Yom Tov day, the 8th day and final day of Passover/Pesach for those who celebrate Passover/Pesach for 8 days.
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| 8th Day of Pesach/Passover (Achron Shel Pesach or Acharon Shel Pesach) | Monday, April 1st, 2013 (Nightfall Monday to Nightfall Tuesday = 22nd of Nissan) | When does Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach begin? The answer is that Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach begins either just after sunset or just after nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows, or if one follows the custom to "extend" the day of Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach by "borrowing" time from the day previous to Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach (and adding it to the beginning of Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach, meaning Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach will begin earlier than the traditional time of starting just after sunset or just after nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this starting time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a half-hour before sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows) and by "borrowing" time from the day following Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach (meaning time from the day following Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach is appended to the Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach day, extending the Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach day beyond its traditional ending time of sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows, and this ending time can be anywhere up to a half-hour after sunset or nightfall depending on the rabbinical opinion one follows).
Though Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach has begun, we must officially begin the Yom Tov (holiday, or in the case of Pesach/Passover, a festival day) by performing the recitation of the Yom Tov blessing and we must also kindle two Yom Tov candles. - The two Yom Tov candles for the eighth day of Pesach/Passover are kindled with a pre-existing flame, meaning a flame that was already in existence by having been lit before Yom Tov for the 8th day of Passover / Pesach; that is, one can use the flame of the aforementioned 50-hour Yahrtzeit candle.
- Reciting the Yom Tov blessing before or after kindling the Yom Tov candles: There is a Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must recite the Yom Tov blessing before kindling the Yom Tov candles. On Shabbat, or the Sabbath, one first kindles the two Shabbat candles and then one recites the Shabbat blessing, so that one may be able to re- kindle the Shabbat candles if one or both of them accidentally burn out, since Shabbat does not officially begin until the Shabbat blessing is recited. Since some Jewish people prefer to follow the same order of kindling candles for Yom Tov and then reciting the blessing for Yom Tov as they do for Shabbat while fulfilling the Talmudic law in Mishnah Berurah that states that one must first recite the blessing for Yom Tov and then kindle the Yom Tov candles, they fulfill both by first kindling the two candles - which are not yet Yom Tov candles since one did not yet recite the blessing for Yom Tov - and then they recite the Yom Tov blessing with one's eyes either closed or with one's hands covering one's eyes. After the person finishes reciting the Yom Tov blessing, Yom Tov has officially begun, and the person then either opens their eyes or removes their hands from their eyes to view for the first time on this Yom Tov what are now the two Yom Tov candles. This method fulfills both the custom to follow the order of first kindling the candles and then reciting the blessing on Yom Tov as is done for Shabbat, as well as to first recite the blessing for Yom Tov while shielding one's eyes from the two candles and then viewing the two Yom Tov candles for the first time after reciting the Yom Tov blessing.
Yom Tov blessing:
The following Yom Tov blessing is in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olam A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holiday (or in this case, festival day).
The following is the Kiddush for Yom Tov (either a Jewish festival day or a Jewish holiday). The Kiddush is recited in order to formally begin the festive meal for Yom Tov for the 8th day of Pesach / Passover. The Kiddush for Yom Tov begins with the Yayin ("Wine" in Hebrew) blessing, followed by the Kiddush blessing which mentions words about the holiness of Yom Tov; in this case, Yom Tov is a festival day, the 1st day of Pesach / Passover:
Here is the blessing over the wine in transliterated Hebrew:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam, Borei Pri Ha-gafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King (or Master or Sovereign) of the universe, who creates (or created or Creator of) the fruit of the vine.
The Kiddush Blessing for Yom Tov is as follows:
Blessed art thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who hast chosen us from all the peoples, and exalted us above all nations, and hallowed us by thy commandments. And thou hast given us in love, O L-rd our G-d, (on the Sabbath, say: Sabbaths for rest,) holy festivals for gladness, and sacred seasons for joy: (on the Sabbath, say: this Sabbath day and) this day of the Festival of Matzos, the time (or season) of our freedom in love; a holy convocation, as a memorial of the departure from Egypt; for thou hast chosen us, and hallowed us above all peoples, and (on the Sabbath, say: thy holy Sabbaths and) festivals thou hast caused us to inherit in love and favor in joy and gladness. Blessed art thou, O L-rd, who hallowest (on the Sabbath, say: the Sabbath,) Israel and the festive Seasons. - Yizkor Memorial Service ["Yizkor" means "May (G-d) Remember" in Hebrew, it is from the Hebrew root word "zakhor", meaning "remember"]; after the Yizkor Memorial Service, for certain Chassidim such as the Chabad-Lubavitch sect, there is a special meal eaten late in the afternoon known as the "Seudas Moshiach", meaning "feast (or meal) for Messiah". Although this meal comes at the close of Pesach/Passover, the Chabad-Lubavitch believe that it represents an historic beginning in that on the final day of Pesach/Passover, the Haftarah scriptural reading from the Book of Isaiah introduces a prophetic vision of the glorious era of the Moshiach, who will return all Jews to Israel from our exile. In essence, the Chabad-Lubavitch believe that Pesach/Passover did not end with the Exodus but is a continuous process that began with Moses and will end with the arrival of Moshiach or the Messiah. They believe that one is incomplete without the other. The "Seudas Moshiach" festive meal is celebrated by eating matzah and drinking four cups of wine around a table and saying "L'Chayim!" ("To Life!" in Hebrew), which is a salutation for best wishes. This ritual was introduced by the Chassidic founder, the "Baal Shem Tov" and later Chassidic Sages, where participants join together around a table to express their thoughts, yearnings, hopes, feelings, and belief in the coming redemption. The festive meal concludes with the singing of melodies and tunes and ends on a high note with the fervant hope of Jewish faith in the future.
- The Pesach/Passover festival ends at either sunset or at nightfall, depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion one follows.
- After the end of the 8th day of Pesach/Passover at either sunset or at nightfall: Performing a partial version of the Havdalah ceremony: When a Yom Tov day is immediately followed by a secular weekday, then a partial version of the full Havdalah ceremony is performed after Yom Tov ends at either sunset or at nightfall and before midnight to separate or distinguish the comparatively higher level of holy time that characterizes a Yom Tov day from the ordinary time of the secular weekdays. The partial Havdalah ceremony involves just the reciting of the Havdalah blessing over a cup of wine, and omits the use of the Havdalah candle(s) and the spice box containing the spices/herbs as well as the omission of the associated blessing for each, that is, the blessing for fire, and the blessing for the spices/herbs.
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| Isru Chag (literally means "bind the festival" in Hebrew) | Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013 (Nightfall Tuesday to Nightfall Wednesday = 23rd of Nissan) | - "Isru Chag" is a day that was created by the people of Israel in order to bask one more day in the close feelings to G-d and in the spiritual joy of the Pesach/Passover festival. It serves as a bridge between the lofty holiness of the Pesach/Passover festival and descending back into the mundane activities of everyday life. "Isru Chag" (or "Isru Hag") is also a day which the people of Israel created to traditionally depart from Jerusalem and return to their homes after gathering for the "Shalosh Regalim" (the three pilgrimmage festivals of Pesach/Passover, Shavuoth, and Sukkoth). For observant Jews, this also means that they return to putting on tefillin (phylacteries) for the morning prayers.
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