Pesach at BT Dear Friends, In the 1600s a man named Abraham Catalano wrote a book. A plague had hit his community of Padua, and as a Torah scholar and physician, his book described what took place at that time. He used a Talmudic phrase as the book’s title: “Olam Hafuch” – a world turned upside down. Four hundred years later, we know the feeling! Pesach arrives in a world that seems to have been upside down. And to complicate things even more, this year’s Pesach begins on a Saturday night; something that has not happened since 2008 (see details inside). Everything seems not to be normal this year. But one thing has not changed… there are people in our synagogue and community who are in need of help. If anything, people need help more so this year than previously. This is an appeal for funds to help people get food, pay their rent, cover their mortgage, pay utility bills, pay for health care, and yes, celebrate Pesach. This appeal helps provide funds for people who are really hurting financially, physically, and indeed, emotionally. Please respond immediately so that the funds are available for distribution before Pesach. Checks may be made out either to the Ma’os Chitim Fund or to the Machzikei Torah Fund. If you prefer, you may donate online at bethtfiloh.com/Pesach. Best wishes for a beautiful and meaningful Pesach. Most sincerely,
Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg P.S. In your return envelope you can also include the Sale of Chametz form and, if you wish, a check made out to the Beth Tfiloh Charity Fund.
Pesach at BT What You Need to Know When Erev Pesach is Shabbat Usually, on the day before Pesach, the house has been thoroughly cleaned of all chametz and the household is putting the finishing touches on preparing and cooking for the Seder meal. However, this year Erev Pesach coincides with Shabbat, when no cooking is allowed and no preparations for Saturday night can be made on the Shabbat. That means the house must be prepared and the Seder meal cooked before sundown Friday. Enjoy starting your Pesach well-rested and relaxed, instead of the usual day of frenzy and rushing! There are a few things you need to know about preparing for Pesach under this year’s unusual circumstances: Bedikat Chametz: The search for chametz is done Thursday, March 25th after 8:07 pm.
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Biur Chametz: Burning the chametz will take place Friday, March 26th outside the Tuvin Gate from 9:15-11:15 am. However, Kol Chamira (the declaration of nullification of chametz) takes place on Shabbat morning at 11:56 am. At this point all chametz (aside from challah discussed below) should be cleaned and cleared out of house or sold. Siyyum Bechorim: The feast of the firstborns takes place Thursday, March 25th in the Dahan Sanctuary or via Zoom, following Shacharit at 7:30 am. No food will be served.
Welcome Back to Shul! We know that some of our members have been fortunate to receive the Covid vaccine, but for the foreseeable future, we must continue to take precautions to ensure our entire community’s safety and wellbeing. Additionally, Shabbat and holiday services look a little different now than before Covid. To view all of our safety protocols and service adjustments, please visit bethtfiloh.com/pesach. Your cooperation with these guidelines will help ensure that our community can safely attend services and enjoy the warmth and joy of Shabbat and holiday davening together again. Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg Rabbi Chai Posner
Friday night Shabbat meal takes place as usual, but you should use either challah or egg matzah for Hamotzi. (It is customary not to eat regular matzah the day prior to Pesach.)
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Shabbat afternoon lunch should be eaten before the end time for eating chametz at 10:41 am, using either egg matzah or challah for Hamotzi. (Davening in shul will start at 8:15 am and end earlier that day in order to allow time for the meal.) The Seder should not start until Shabbat has concluded at 8:09 pm.
Selling Your Chametz Because the rabbis realized that disposing of chametz completely would involve a considerable financial hardship for many, they devised a process whereby a Jew could sell his or her chametz to a non-Jew before Pesach and repurchase it after the conclusion of the holiday. This sale has been structured so that the non-Jew will find it in his or her best interests to resell the chametz after Pesach. Because this sale involves many technicalities, it has been traditional for the rabbi of the congregation to act as the agent for those who sell their chametz. Everyone who prepares his or her home for Pesach should arrange with the rabbi to sell their chametz. This is effectuated by signing a Statement of Authorization (Shtar Harsha’ah), which may be done anytime prior to midmorning on Friday, March 26. The enclosed authorization form meets the halachic requirements and should be delivered to the Congregation Office in order that Rabbi Wohlberg may receive it prior to Friday, March 26. If you own chametz in several places, such as your home and a vacation home, include all of the addresses. REMINDER - Please wait a brief period after the end of Passover before using your chametz in order for Rabbi Wohlberg to have sufficient time to repurchase it on your behalf.
Pesach at BT 10 Questions for the Pesach Seder – 2021/5781 By Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg The number 10 is a most significant one in Jewish tradition. We have the 10 Commandments, and the 10 Plagues. Add to that my 10 Questions for the Pesach Seder, and the triumvirate is complete! Wishing you a Zissen Pesach – a sweet and joyous Passover holiday. 1. “ Why is this night different from all other nights?” Because tonight we should we wearing masks and be socially distant. If you’re not, why not? 2. T he Jews were very much a part of Egyptian society and then one day it all changed. Is that happening in Europe? Could that happen here in America? 3. A s the Jews passed through the Red Sea the Torah tells us that the water was a “wall” (chomah) on the right and on the left. Our sages read the word not as “chomah” – wall, but as “cheimah” – meaning “hatred.” Our country is divided, but to the left and right, liberals and conservatives. Do the Jewish people today face a greater threat from the right or from the left? How do we bridge the divides in our own homes? 4. I t was God – through the agency of Moshe – who brought the Ten Plagues. Do you think God is responsible for the plague we have been living through? 5. T he theme of the Exodus was an inspiration for America’s Civil Rights Movement. We are now told, “Black Lives Matter.” Do they matter to you? 6. O ur tradition teaches that God considered the Jews worthy of redemption from Egypt because while there, “They didn’t change their names, dress or language.” Recently there have been a lot of Jewish names in the news, some because they helped discover the virus vaccine, but more than 12 were noted for having received presidential pardons for their crimes. What’s with our people?
7. A Kabbalistic interpretation of the word “Pesach” views it as a combination of two words: “Peh” – “mouth” and “Sach” – conversation. Freedom means to be able to say what you want. Are we being forced to be too politically “correct” when it comes to freedom of speech? In a “cancel culture” are there not some things that should be “canceled?” 8. A fter the first five plagues, Pharaoh knew that he was doomed. And yet, he “hardened his heart.” In the last year many people refused to wear a mask or vaccinate, while others refused to accept the fact that a new president had been elected. Why do people “harden their hearts” to reality? 9. B efore we drink the third cup of wine, we open the door to welcome Elijah. Opening the door was also made necessary during the Middle Ages to make sure that a dead Christian child had not been left there, with Jews being accused of using the child’s blood to make matzah for the Seder. This is now known as a “conspiracy theory.” Does anyone at your table believe our modern-day conspiracy theories, and what can we do about it? 10. It’s only 10% of the time that the first Seder comes out on a Saturday night as it does this year. It last happened in 2008 and will next happen in 2025 and then not until 2045. Who at your Seder this year will still be with you then?
SALE OF CHAMETZ AUTHORIZATION FORM Please return to the Synagogue Office or complete online at bethtfiloh.com/pesach
Please Note: To sell your chametz, return this form to the synagogue office or complete it online at bethtfiloh.com/pesach
I, ___________________________________, residing at the following locations: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________, do hereby fully authorize Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg to act as my agent for the sale of all chametz in my possession, whether according to biblical or rabbinic law or accepted Jewish custom. _____________________________ ____________________ Signature Dated
To donate to the Beth Tfiloh Charity Fund, you may include a check or visit bethtfiloh.com/pesach
Pesach at BT
Davening & Shabbat Times Siyyum Bechorim: Shacharit 7:30 am, followed by siyum, 8 am (approx.) in Dahan Sanctuary Mincha/Maariv: 5:55/6:10 pm Bedikat Chametz: after 8:07 pm
Friday, Mar. 26
Shacharit: 7:30 am Biur chametz: 9:15-11:15 am, outside Tuvin gate Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:30/6:45 pm Shabbat candlelighting: 7:07 pm
Saturday, Mar. 27
Shacharit: 8:15 am – please note special time Latest time to eat chametz: 10:41 am Latest time to own chametz/recite Kol Chamira: 11:56 am Mincha/Maariv: 7:10/7:55 pm Yom Tov candlelighting: 8:09 pm
Sunday, Mar. 28
Shacharit: 9:15 am Mincha/Maariv: 7:15/7:45 pm Candlelighting: 8:10 pm
Monday, Mar. 29
Sunday, Apr. 4
Shacharit: 9:15 am Yizkor: 10 am Mincha/Maariv: 7:25/8:05 pm Yom Tov ends: 8:17 pm
Shacharit: 9:15 am Mincha/Maariv: 7:15/7:55 pm Yom Tov ends: 8:11 pm
Tuesday, Mar. 30-Thursday, Apr. 1 Shacharit: 7:30 am Mincha/Maariv: 6/6:15 pm
Friday, Apr. 2
Mincha/Maariv: 6:30/6:45 pm (No Kabbalat Shabbat) Candlelighting: 7:14 pm
Saturday, Apr. 3
Shacharit: 9:15 am Mincha/Maariv: 7:20/8:05 pm Candlelighting: 8:16 pm
For more information, visit bethtfiloh.com/pesach or call 410-486-1900.
Beth Tfiloh Congregation 3300 Old Court Road Baltimore, MD 21208
Thursday, Mar. 25