Thursday, April 10th Siyum Ta'anit Bechorim 7:10 AM - In person and via Zoom - zoom.us/j/8514043665 Dial in: (646) 568-7788, code: 8514043665# Zoom password: 1234613 Thursday, April 10th Bedikat Chametz (Search for Chametz) After 8:12 PM The Torah forbids us not only to eat, but also even to own Chametz on Pesach. We remove any Chametz unknown to us by “nullifying” it through Bittul Chametz, thus making the Chametz ownerless. Our chachamim, however, further mandated a thorough check of the house on the night before Pesach a) in case we have not truly nullified our Chametz in our hearts and b) lest one find and eat Chametz on Pesach. This is not just a perfunctory check of our homes! While the custom of putting out 10 pieces of bread has some basis, finding only those pieces does not fulfill one’s obligation. Bedikat Chametz should take at least 1 hour if it is performed properly. Places to check include medicine cabinets, coat pockets, garages and autos. One should try to do the bedikah as soon as possible after nightfall; it is improper to push it off.
Friday, April 11th - 10:45 am - 11:45 am - Burning of Chametz
Remaining Chametz, other than that which is being saved for shabbos, must be disposed of or placed with other chametz being sold by this time. Kol chamira is recited at this point (instead of at the burning on Friday.) Several notes: a) In addition to the final time for Chametz, there is also a prohibition to Matzah or Matzah Meal products on Erev Pesach. Fruit, eggs, meat, chocolate, etc. may be eaten, but one should try to leave a lot of room for the Seder foods. If needed, Rav Hershel Schachter permits eating Egg Matzah throughout the duration of Erev Pesach. b) Although most Seder preparations can be made on Yom Tov itself, some things are better done before Yom Tov begins. They include: roasting the shank bone and egg, chopping the horseradish and charoset, checking the lettuce for bugs and making the salt-water.
Important Zmanim for Shabbos Day:
10:43 am - Last time to eat chametz
11:49 am - Last time to annul & dispose of remaining chametz
8:13 pm - Earliest time to start seder
12:54 am - Midnight (Finish Afikomen)