Passover 5785

Chag sameach! Shearith Israel wishes you and your family a joyful, kosher and meaningful Passover holiday. Scroll down for information on the seders, preparing your home, selling your chametz, a schedule of CSI's Passover services, and more!

Passover begins Saturday evening, April 12th, 2025, with Yom Tov on Sunday, April 13th and Monday, April 14th. The final two days of Passover are Yom Tov as well, beginning Friday evening, April 18th through Sunday night, April 20th. Yizkor will be recited during Yom Tov morning services on Sunday, April 20th at approximately 11am.  

All services during the holiday will be held in-person. Chol HaMoed weekday morning and evening services will also be on Zoom. Yom Tov and Shabbat morning services will be livestreamed. 

To request access to our minyan on Zoom, email minyan@shearithisrael.com.

Please note: Evening services will not be held on Saturday, April 12th or Sunday, April 13th as congregants enjoy the seders at that time. 

Livestream Services Here

Services via Zoom - Gather Here

View our 2025 / 5785 Passover Guide

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Passover service times grid:

Please note: Due to a technical issue, we will be unable to livestream from the Chapel the Yom Tov morning services on Sunday, April 13th and Monday, April 14th. Those services will be in-person only.

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CLEANING AND KASHERING FOR PESACH:

The Rabbinical Assembly Guide provides a comprehensive review of the ways that different kinds of dishes, utensils, and cookware can be made Kosher for Passover. There is also great guidance to which foods are permissible and which are forbidden. We will have Bedikat Chametz (search for chametz) kits available for pick-up at CSI prior to Passover. 

Tips for preparing your home for Passover:

1. Start by making the kitchen and dining area the only place that Chametz can be consumed.  
2. Move one room at a time, with a thorough vacuum, sweep, and wipedown of all surfaces. Go under couches and into cushions. Any place that a crumb might have fallen deserves to be checked.
3. When you’re ready for a “Chametz free home” move onto the Kitchen and dining areas. Consult the guide for advice.  

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SHOPPING:

This comprehensive list makes Passover shopping so much easier! You’ll be fine as long as you thoroughly avoid any wheat, barley, oat, spelt, or rye products. Lots of natural foods like fruits, vegetables, Kosher meat, fish, and dairy products are great!  

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Mechirat Chametz - Selling Chametz

Visit the link below to complete a short form to sell your leavened products and other food not acceptable during Passover. If possible, all Chametz, or materials containing such unacceptable food - should be destroyed or given away before the holiday begins. Should this be impossible, the Chametz may be stored in such a way that you are sure not to use it during the holiday and its actual ownership is transferred to a non-Jew until the holiday ends.

5785 / 2025 Sale of Chametz Form

The deadline to complete the form is Friday, April 11th at 2 pm. Have a meaningful and kosher holiday!

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Bedikat Chametz - Searching for Leaven

The ritual of Bedikat Chametz, searching for leaven, is traditionally performed the night before Passover begins. This year the search for chametz takes place on Thursday night, April 10th. The items used in a Bedikat Chametz kit include a feather, paper bag, and a candle. 

Click the button below for further instructions, including the blessing, to perform the ritual of Bedikat Chametz, an act of physical and spiritual cleansing.

Bedikat chametz kits will be available to be picked up in the Multi-Purpose Room at the front of the administrative wing of the CSI office. 

Bedikat Chametz - Ritual Instructions & Blessing

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Biur Chametz - Burning of the Chametz

All chametz gathered during the ritual of Bedikat Chametz should be burned on Friday, April 11th before 12pm. The community is invited to bring chametz to be burned in a small bonfire in the Shearith Israel parking lot on the morning of April 11th from 9:30 - 10 am.

Click the button below for instructions, including the recitation, to perform the ritual of Biur Chametz.

For those refraining from eating chametz throughout the holiday, the final time chametz may be consumed is 11:26am on April 11th. 

Biur Chametz - Ritual Instructions & Recitation

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SEDER TIPS AND RESOURCES:

Rabbi Kaiman's Virtual Seder Preparation Guide

Kveller Article on Preparing a Seder

My Jewish Learning - Basic Seder Tips

Ron Wolfson on Passover Seder During Pandemic

Tips for a solo or small Seder

Ron Wolfson - tips for a memorable seder

Four Children and COVID-19

CSI's (Pandemic Edition) Virtual Haggadah Prepared by Rabbi Kaiman

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PASSOVER 5785 SERVICE TIMES list

Services via Zoom - Gather Here       Livestream Services Here

For a list of Passover service leaders and candle lighting times, visit our davening page here.

thursday, april 10

7 am - Morning Services (in-person and on Zoom via link above)

8 am Seudah of First Born w/ Mishnah Study

7 pm Evening Services (in-person and on Zoom)

After dark: Bedikat Chametz (searching for leaven)

friday, april 11

7 am - Morning Services (on Zoom via link above)

9:30- 10 am Biur Chametz (Burning of Chametz) in CSI Parking Lot 

7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma'ariv services 

7:47 pm Candle lighting

saturday, april 12 (1st seder)

9am Shabbat morning services (in Sanctuary and livestreamed)

12:30 pm Mincha (in Chapel)

Evening services will not be held on Saturday, April 12th as congregants enjoy the 1st seder.

8:48 pm Candle lighting

sunday, april 13 (2nd seder)

9am Yom Tov Morning Services (in Chapel and livestreamed)

Evening services will not be held on Sunday, April 13th as congregants enjoy the 1st seder.

8:49 pm Candle lighting

monday, april 14

Pesach II

9am Yom Tov Morning Services (in Chapel and livestreamed)

7 pm Evening Services / Havdalah (on Zoom via link above)

8:38 pm Havdalah

tuesday, april 15

7 am Morning Services (on Zoom via link above)

7 pm Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma'ariv Services (on Zoom)

wednesday, april 16

thursday, April 17

friday, April 18

7:53 pm Candle lighting

saturday, April 19

9 am Yom Tov Morning Services (in Sanctuary and livestreamed)

12:30 pm Mincha (in-person only)

8:53 pm Candle lighting

 

sunday, April 20

9 am Yom Tov Morning Services / Yizkor (approximately 11am) [in Sanctuary and livestreamed]

11am Yizkor*

12:30 pm Mincha (in-person only)

7 pm Evening Services (on Zoom via link above)

8:42 pm Havdalah

Chametz can be eaten