Rivky was the lucky girl who got to join Rabbi Chaim for a special trip to NY, marking the Rebbe's 112th birthday tonight, 11 Nissan. The high rollers trip included rolling in the dough at the matzah bakery (the real deal) and a spiritual visit to the ohel. Of course, a trip to NY is not complete without a stop at the Bubbies, seeing a giant Pesach fish, kosher pizza and candy shops!
We are excited to have Chanie's brother Mendel Galperin and his friend, Tzemach Simon, to assist and join us for Pesach!
The Shabbat before Passover is termed Shabbat HaGadol ("The Great Shabbat") in commemoration of the "great miracle" that happened in Egypt on this day, heralding the Exodus from Egypt five days later. Shabbat HaGadol customs include reading a portion of the Haggadah (from "Avadim hayinu..." to "...al kol avonotainu"), which tells the story of the Exodus; it is also customary that the rabbi of the community delivers a lecture in which he elaborates on the laws of Passover and their significance, in preparation for the festival.
Final call to sell your chametz! From all Jewish food laws, Chametz is unique since not only are you not allowed to eat it, you're not even allowed to own it! Sell your Chametz now atwww.chabadhouston.com/chametz.
A final and formal search is conducted for Chametz after nightfall to remove every last crumb of chametz from our homes and property, in Houston after 8:17 pm. Click herefor a step-by-step "Getting-Rid-of-Chametz" wizard. Click here for instructions on how to conduct the search, and here for the time for searching chametz in your location. Links: AboutLeaven.
Monday is the "fast of the firstborn" commemorating the plague of the death of the firstborn Egyptian sons. If you are a firstborn son or the parent of a firstborn son under bar mitzvah, you need to fast until the Seder kiddush OR you can come to shul on Monday morning to hear a siyum ceremony, a completion of a tractate of Talmud. The celebration of the tractate's completion exempts the fast.
Please join us for Shabbos and Pesach holiday services. Check out the complete schedule atwww.chabaduptown.org/pesachschedule. Take special note of Yizkor and Moshiach seudah on the final day of Pesach.
Shabbos Hagadol, Parshas Acharei
Friday, April 11
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle lighting at 7:28 pm
Shabbos, April 12
Chassidus at 9 am
Shacharis at 10 am
Special Shabbos Hagadol reading and Shabbat Hagadol Rabbi's Sermon
Followed by Kiddush and farbrengen
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Customary reading of portion of Hagaddah
Maariv, havdalla and Shabbos Ends at 8:23 pm
Kiddush levana
Living Torah
Sunday, April 13
Shacharis at 8:30
Tefillin Club wrap at 9 am
Chametz sale deadline at 5 pm
- After 8:17 pm Formal Search for Chometz
Monday, April 14 (see laws or Pesach A-Z)
- 5:43 am Firstborn Fast Begins
- 6:45-7:30 am Teffilin wrap & Siyum ceremony for firstborns (or parents of firstborns under 13)
- Before 11:13 am Finish eating Chametz
- Before 12:17 pm Finish burning Chametz
Passover I & II Services & Candle Lighting
(see The Seder, laws or Pesach A-Z)
Monday, April 14, 2014
- Before 7:30 pm Light Shabbos & Yom Tov Candles (Blessings 2 & 4)
- 7:30 pm Mincha & Maariv Services
Feel free to join any of the Houston area communal seders! CLICK HERE FOR THE LISTING
Tuesday, April 15
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
- 7:30 pm Mincha & Maariv Services (Begin to Count Omer)
- After 8:25 pm Light Yom Tov Candles (Blessings 2 & 4)
Wednesday, April 16
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
- 7:30 pm Mincha & Maariv Services
- 8:25 pm Yom Tov Ends
March 28-31 Chol Hamoed (Intermediate) Pesach days - No Teffilin Required
Have a good Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie