When Passover Begins on Saturday Night

By Rabbi Marc

This year, the first Seder and therefore the beginning of Pesach is on Saturday night April 12th.  For traditionally observant Jews, this is complicated and in full knowledge of our community’s wonderfully diverse practices, we thought we would summarize some of the halachic perspectives.  According to strict law, the seder does not start until after Shabbat is completely over, which is at 8.19pm in Boulder, and to make it even more complicated, we are traditionally not permitted to do any preparation for the seder on Shabbat.  This means that for many, as much as possible is prepared and ready before Shabbat comes in at around 7pm on Friday.  Additionally, some of the rituals and practices that happen on the eve of Passover happen earlier.  Here are some of those times:

• Thursday April 10th after 8:03pm - Bedikat Hametz (searching for the last pieces of hametz)
• Friday April 11th before 11:55am - Selling and burning of hametz
• Friday 7:18pm - candlelighting
• Saturday April 12th - 10:48am last eating of hametz*
• Saturday - 8:19pm - candle lighting for beginning of Pesach and seder

One of the most complicated questions that arises in all this is “what and where do we eat on Shabbat?”  Traditionally we eat three meals over the course of Shabbat, each one with some delicious challah, but our homes and synagogues are meant to be completely ready and kosher for Pesach before shabbat begins.  Some people will keep some challah and make motzi outside the house and then come inside for a meal that has no bread and no matzah. *On Shabbat day, some will not have any bread with their Shabbat lunch as they would normally, and others would take a break from services and go outside to make a motzi by 10.48am and make sure that there is none left hanging around!

We are a complicated people and, again, I know many of you will not be waiting until after Shabbat to start your seders and our joyful celebration of the Season of Freedom, but we hope this guide is helpful for those of you wanting to know how it all works for more traditional practice.  We will, as always, be selling hametz on your behalf and having our annual bonfire on Friday morning!  A full schedule of programs and services are below.

Happy Spring!