We are looking forward to a beautiful Pesach and hope that you can join us for the chag. This year the days preceding Pesach are different than usual therefore, we are including the following guide to clarify what to do on the days leading to Pesach.
 
Thursday, April 10th
The Fast of the First-Born Son takes effect on this day. This fast can be avoided by attending the Siyum and breakfast following the 7am Shachris at The Village Shul.
 
Sale of Chometz forms should be submitted by Thursday at noon. The actual sale will take place before Shabbos and will exclude any Chometz food items eaten on Shabbos. 

Search for Chometz will take place in the evening of Thursday after 8:39pm. All premises should be Chometz free at this time. 

Following the search for Chometz the nullification for all unknown Chometz is said.
Any known Chometz still in your possession should be placed in 1 of 3 places.
1) In a designated area set aside for destruction the following day.
2) In closed cabinets or rooms marked for sale.
3) In a designated area (away from the main kitchen) set aside for eating on Friday and Shabbos in the permitted times.

Friday, April 11th 
Destroying the Chometz, including the ten pieces of bread put out at the search the evening prior and the Chometz in area #1. Though the Chometz can be destroyed anytime before Shabbos, it is preferable to burn it on Friday before noon, as other years. There is a public Chometz burning managed by the fire department in the parking lot across from 129 McGillivary Ave.
 
Preparations for the Pesach Seder should be done before Shabbos since we are not permitted to prepare for Pesach on Shabbos. This includes the items on the seder plate and all foods for the first 2 days of Pesach that are needed to be prepared in advance.
 
We also light a 72 hour candle to use for lighting the candles on the following 2 nights.
 
The Friday night dinner needs a bit of planning since we want to avoid chometz as the house is already prepared for Pesach but we also don't eat regular Matza or Matza products before Pesach. It can be done in the following 2 ways:
1) The preferred way is to have the meal entirely kosher for Pesach and eat the meal as if a Pesach meal. In the place of Regular Matza for Hamotzi, Kosher for Pesach Egg Matza can be used which is permitted on erev Pesach.
 
Matza balls can be eaten during this meal since the matza meal is boiled, and it is also permitted on Erev Pesach.

2) To have Pitas or other non crumbly rolls for Hamotzi. If this method is chosen, one must be careful to use disposable tableware and then to shake out and sweep up all crumbs and deposit outside of the house following the meal.
 
Kitniyos can be prepared in disposable equipment and served during this meal.
 
Shabbos, April 12th 
Shabbos morning lunch can be eaten in the same methods as the Friday night meal but there is a difference in timing. 
 
If you are using bread or kitniyos, the meal should start early enough that they be consumed preferably by 10:41am or 11:09am if necessary. 
 
If you are using Kosher for Pesach Egg Matza, they can be eaten later until 1pm.
 
Biur Chometz Should be performed for any Chometz that was in use over Shabbos and be out of your possession by 12pm. This can be done by putting it out in the street if you are in an area with an eruv or flushing it down the toilet. If needed it can also be added to the closet that was sold, and added to the sale.
 
Kol Chamira, The nullification of all Chometz should also be said before noon.
 
Seudat Shlishit, can be done in the same method as the morning meal if time allows for a break between the morning meal and Seudat Shlishit within the permitted time.
 
A good way to do this is to wash on egg matza at the Village Shul Kiddush following davening and then have another meal at home.
 
If time does not allow, Seudat Shlishit at your home can be fulfilled by eating protein or fruit in the after noon.
 
Relax at this point and enjoy your most relaxing few hours leading to the Seder as we won't start preparing until 8:43pm
 
Chag kosher ve'sameach,
Rabbi Tzvi Sytner
Rabbi Shlomo Katz