Pesach 2020 at Kesher Israel
Pre-Pesach Food Drive with Capitol Kosher Pantry
In lieu of our annual Chametz Drive, we will be partnering with Capitol Kosher Pantry and Yad Yehuda to provide necessary items for Pesach for families in need. Please find the shopping list of Kosher for Passover items here.
Food Ordering and Delivery
While we will not be able to host our community seder this year, we are fortunate that our local vendors have stepped up to ensure EVERYONE is able to obtain whatever Shelf Goods or Prepared foods needed for Pesach.
1) Char Bar is offering a full catering menu, including seder to go boxes. The menu can be found here. Please contact Michael Chelst to order or if you have financial concerns.
2) Shalom Kosher will be accepting online orders and delivering directly to individual homes in downtown DC. Please order prepared foods here by 3/25/2020. Other store items can be ordered here.
3) Motis Market is also accepting online orders for delivery to DC, found here. Other store items can be ordered here.
Maot Chittim
If one is concerned about their ability to afford Pesach foods, please contact Rabbi Shafner for assistance.
Maot Chittim donations can be contributed online or called into the office.
Mechirat Chametz (Sale of Chametz)
Rabbi Shafner will be coordinating the sale of chametz for Kesher Israel this year.
All Kesher Israel chometz sales will be conducted online.
Though in other years it may be preferable to appoint Rabbi Shafner in person, your online agency is fully acceptable halachically. Please click here to fill out the online form. That is all that is required.
The online form must be completed by Sunday April 5th!
Please wait an hour after the end of the holiday to use your chametz. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Rabbi Shafner.
Bi'ur Chametz (burning of Chametz)
This year due to limits on gathering we will not have a communal chametz burning. Instead, be sure the 10 pieces of chametz you use for the search are small. On Wednesday morning (erev chag), in place of burning chametz, flush these pieces down the toilet (carefully so you don’t clog anything). Any chametz that is left in your possession that you are not selling should be disposed of in the trash outside of your home, or if you have your own trash cans, be sure the chametz is below other garbage. Remember to recite the traditional bitul nullification of chametz like every year.
Pesach Halachot, Reference & Reading Material, and Kashrut Information
Rabbi Shafner's Pesach Guide for 5780
The Kesher Israel Community Kashrut Standards contain information on kashering for Pesach and additional resources.
Pesach Times
| Tuesday, April 7 | After 8:30 PM | Bedikat Chametz | ||
| Wednesday, April 8 | 8:00 AM | Zoom Siyum, click HERE | ||
| Erev Pesach | 11:00 AM | Finish eating chametz | ||
| 12:05 PM | Final time for burning chametz | |||
| Remember to make an eruv tavshilin! | ||||
| 7:21 PM | Candle Lighting | |||
| After 8:21 PM | Kiddish at Seder can begin | |||
| Thursday, April 9 | 8:21 PM | Candle Lighting & earliest time to prepare and start seder | ||
| 1st day of Pesach | Remember to count the omer! | |||
| Friday, April 10 | 7:23 PM | Candle Lighting | ||
| 2nd day of Pesach | First day of the Omer | |||
| Shabbat, April 11 | Second day of the Omer | |||
| Chol HaMoed | 8:24 PM | Havdalah | ||
| Sunday, April 12 | Third day of the Omer | |||
| Chol HaMoed | ||||
| Monday, April 13 | Fourth day of the Omer | |||
| Chol HaMoed | ||||
| Tuesday, April 14 | Fifth day of the Omer | |||
| Chol HaMoed | 7:27 PM | Candle Lighting | ||
| Wednesday, April 15 | Sixth day of the Omer | |||
| 7th day of Pesach | 8:27 PM | Candle Lighting & earliest time to prepare | ||
| Thursday, April 16 | Seventh day of the Omer | |||
| *Yizkor* | Yikzor can be said at home individually and does not | |||
| 8th day of Pesach | require a minyan. Please remember to give tzedakah | |||
| for Yizkor before or after chag | ||||
| 8:29 PM | Havdalah |