Preparing for Passover
PESACH SEDER FIRST NIGHT: ON ZOOM: We will be holding our Pesach Seder First Night, March 27th, Saturday night, invitation sent separately. 6 pm – 8:30. Some people have asked for some basic instructions about preparations this year (please contact Kolot Mayim if you would like an invitation):
First night is Saturday night so we have a few complications to understand as we proceed with our preparations:
· If doing Bedikat Chametz, (searching for chametz), it must be done Thursday night (March 25th). Keep track of where you have hidden chametz, so you find it all!
· Biyur Chametz (destroying chametz, usually by lighting a small fire outside and burning last of the chametz that has been set aside) is done Friday morning.
· All preparations for Shabbat and Seder meal should be done on Friday, including preparation of Seder Plate elements that require cooking/roasting.
· Preparation of Seder plate completed on Friday – roasting of bone/parsnip and egg. Seder plate can be completed with parsley, charoset, and maror (bitter herbs) before Seder.
· Challah eaten for Shabbat: If your kitchen is Pesadikke, then you will want to eat it in a place that is not Pesach-ready – such as outside or over a paper plate so no crumbs spill.
· You will want to make charoset. See: https://www.thespruceeats.com/charoset-recipes-from-around-the-world-4031811
· As we are on Zoom and not at a communal table you will want to have your Seder plate, Matzah, charoset, wine/juice and wine glass, parsley, and salt water all at the ready, nearby your computer screen.
· We will be using an on-screen Haggadah, but you might want to bring your own Haggadah to your table to follow singing the order – the font is a little small. Otherwise this is a wonderful resource from the publishing wing of the Reform movement: CCAR.
· Have a cover for the matzah – if not a matzah cover then a cloth napkin.
· Have a basin and cup and small towel so you can wash hands (for ritual washing).
· You may want to prepare a small plate of appetizers – vegetables, hard cooked egg, pickles – just not matzah – yet!
· We will pause for eating our meal for 30 minutes and then resume our Seder. We will be joining each other in 3 different breakout rooms during the meal to visit and shmooze.
· Matzah, chrain (horseradish) and other Pesach supplies are available at Aubergine and at Fairway markets.
· We will be reciting Havdalah after making the blessing on the first cup of wine; we use the candles lit for YomTov as Havdalah candles. No spices needed.
We are just days before First Night Seder and when we begin to sing, Mah nishtana ha Laila ha zeh, we will have a very different answer on our tongues than the usual responses! Most of us are used to sitting with family and friends, new and old, and enjoying favourite Seder foods with the often raucous commentary. This year we will each be at home – but together at the same time. If you would like to join our community Seder, please let us know by sending Kolot Mayim an email (
Counting the Omer
March 30, 2021 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: Lag B’Omer, omer, passover, pesach, shavuot •
As of Sunday, March 28, we are in the period of the Omer, that countdown of 49 days to our next Festival, Shavuot. By doing so, we are preparing ourselves to receive Torah at Sinai. This Omer period is a time of semi-mourning, so no haircuts, no listening to instrumental music, or dancing, or weddings or other simchas are traditionally undertaken – except for the 33rd day, Lag B’Omer.
There is a mystical tradition that has been revived in some communities where we look to a chart delineating some of the qualities of the Divine to emulate on each day. It is a profound practice and in contemplating how to bring these qualities into each day, we are a step closer. Here is one translation of these attributes. To use the chart you read the guiding principle of the week through the lens of the principle of the day – so day 2 is Chesed guided by the attribute of gevurah. Etc.
The seven attributes are:
1. Chesed ― Loving-kindness
2. Gevurah ― Justice and discipline
3. Tiferet ― Harmony, compassion
4. Netzach ― Endurance
5. Hod ― Humility
6. Yesod ― Bonding
7. Malchut ― Sovereignty, leadership