Serious introspection breeds happiness and freedom. As we learned in today's Tanya (31), quoting from the Talmud, From the forest itself comes [the handle for] the ax [which fells the forest].
Of course, it is not by chance.
Tonight we remove Chametz from our homes. The Alter Rebbe was known to check for chametz all night in his home. Poignantly, it was a one room house. Chassidus teaches the importance to meditate and examine for the removal of Chametz (inflated ego, personal demons of all sorts) from our internal selves. We, the struggling Human from the "Speaking Kingdom", take the (inanimate kingdom) wax candle, (vegetative kingdom) wooden spoon and (animal kingdom) feather and use our three soul expressions of meditative "thought", blessing through "speech" while using the "action" of checking throughout our homes and souls. Therefore, it is customary to place 10 pieces for the search, representing the spiritual DNA, the ten sefirot / expressions, of the soul.
May we successfully remove our chametz, finding personal peace allowing us to sit down as truly free people to tomorrow's seder. Free from all oppression, including the chocolate Rabbis.
Shabbos & First Days of Pesach Schedule
Friday, April 6 (see laws or Pesach A-Z)
- 5:52 am Firstborn Fast Begins
- 6:45-7:30 am Teffilin wrap & Siyum ceremony for firstborns (or parents of firstborns under 13)
Firstborn males over the age of Bar Mitzvah (13) are obligated to fast on the 14th of Nissan, in recognition of the fact that during the "Plague of the Firstborn" (which occurred at midnight of Nissan 15) G-d "passed over" the Jewish firstborn when He killed all firstborn Egyptians. If there is a firstborn male in the family under 13, the obligation to fast rests with the father. The prevailing custom, however, is for the firstborn to exempt themselves from the obligation to fast by participating in a seudat mitzvah (a meal marking the fulfillment of a mitzvah), such as a siyyum--a festive meal celebrating the conclusion of the study of a section of Torah).
- Before 11:16 am Finish eating Chametz
- Before 12:19 pm Finish burning Chametz
Passover I & II Services & Candle Lighting
(see The Seder, laws or Pesach A-Z)
Friday, April 6, 2012 
- Before 7:25 pm Light Shabbos & Yom Tov Candles (Blessings 3 & 4)
- 7:30 pm Mincha, Shabbat & Holiday Maariv Services
- 8:30 pm First Seder - (SOLD OUT - Earliest Kiddush is 8:12 pm)
Shabbos, April 7
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
Special Prayer for Dew (Tal)
- 7:25 pm Mincha & Maariv Services (Begin to Count Omer)
- After 8:21 pm Light Yom Tov Candles (Blessings 2 & 4)
- 8:30 pm Second Communal Seder - RSVP (Earliest Kiddush 8:20 pm)
Sunday, April 8
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
- 7:25 pm Mincha & Maariv Services
- 8:22 pm Yom Tov Ends
April 9-12 Intermediate days - No Teffilin Required
No Classes this Week...
Wishing you a Happy & Kosher Pesach!!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie