Pesach Resources 5784 / 2024

Of all the Jewish holidays, Pesach requires the most preparation. The resources on this page have been put together by Kehilat Hadar to help you prepare for Pesach, including a detailed guide to preparing your home or apartment for Pesach, as well as information on how to dispose of your chametz (leavened products) before the holiday, where to obtain kosher for Pesach food, and various pre-holiday practices. Please note that Kehilat Hadar and Shaare Zedek will be meeting on Shabbat Chol HaMoed and Days 7-8 this year (April 27, 29-30). Chag kasher v'sameach!

Read on for Pesach resources, selling chametz, ma'ot chittin and more.

Pesach Guide

A detailed guide to preparing your home for Pesach is available as a PDF. The Pesach guide was compiled for Kehilat Hadar and revised by Josh Greenfield with suggestions from Rabbi Ethan Tucker and Rabbi Micha'el Rosenberg.

Pesach Hotline

Hadar Institute offers a Pesach questions hotline (some questions and answers will be posted anonymously on Hadar Institute's website).

Zmanim

Here is a full list of halachic times for chametz, candlelighting, etc. for New York City this year.

Mechirat Chametz (selling leavened products)

As described in the Pesach Guide, all chametz you do not dispose of before the holiday should be sold by a competent halachic agent; generally, this is done by signing a document authorizing a local rabbi to sell your chametz on your behalf.  You can appoint Ashira Konigsburg as your agent to sell your chametz simply by filling out this form (now closed).

To sell your chametz through Kehilat Hadar and Shaare Zedek, you must complete this form (now closed) by 9:00 AM on Thursday, April 18 in order to allow for time to complete the sale on behalf of the community. 

We will not be able to accept any more forms after that time. 

This year in New York City, chametz can be eaten only until 10:38 AM on Monday, April 22, and all chametz must be disposed of by 11:46 AM on Monday, April 22.

Ma'ot Chittin

Although feeding the hungry is a worthy cause year-round, a special appeal is customarily made prior to Pesach. This appeal is called ma'ot chittin, which loosely translated means funds for bread. Most synagogues have a fund dedicated to this purpose; various non-profit organizations do as well. In addition, a great way to get rid of your chametz and help the hungry is to donate food to a local shelter. 

Ta'anit Bechorot

It is traditional for those who are first-born (bechorim or bechorot) to fast on the day before Pesach, in remembrance of being saved from the final plague in Egypt. (Incidentally, the midrash says that both women and men were affected by this plague, and the Shulhan Arukh brings the opinion that therefore women who are first-born should fast as well.) However, the widespread custom is for the first-born to participate in a siyum (completion of a major cycle of Jewish learning) on that day, and the siyum is concluded with a meal (with chametz!). The obligation to eat at a siyum supersedes the fast, therefore many synagogues will hold this siyum after morning services on that day.