Your Practical Day by Day Guide to Pesach 2025 / 5785
Pesach this year presents us with a particular challenge as Erev Pesach falls on Shabbat. Here is a practical, day by day guide, to everything you need to know to prepare.
Wednesday 9th April – 11th Nissan
Mechirat Chametz – Sale of Chametz
According to halachah, not only is it forbidden to eat chametz on Pesach, but it is also forbidden to own or derive benefit from it. Therefore, all chametz must be disposed of or sold to a non-Jew before Pesach. Although the non-Jew usually sells it back after Pesach, this is an entirely valid and legal sale, both in Jewish and English Law. The chametz to be sold should be securely locked away in a room or cupboard, which will not be used over Pesach.
Please note that failure to sell chametz before Pesach means that the owner may never eat nor benefit from it, even after Pesach has finished. Such chametz must be given away to a non-Jew or destroyed.
Types of chametz to be included in the sale include, but are not limited to:
Bread products, biscuits, flour, cereals, beverages, alcoholic spirits, beer, pasta products, semolina, farfel, canned foods, soft drinks, confectionery, all other foods containing chametz, medicaments, perfumes, cosmetics, aerosols, cleaning materials, any chametz in or adhering to ovens, food mixers or food processors, and any other chametz on any other utensils, shares in companies or business producing, trading or owning chametz.
Arranging the sale is as simple as completing a form called: Power of Attorney for the Sale of Chametz. To complete a Sale of Chametz form online, visit borehamwoodshul.org/sale-of-chametz
All forms must be submitted by Wednesday 9th April
Chametz will be sold at approximately 11:54am on Friday 11th April, excluding that set aside for consumption before 10:45am on Shabbat morning.
Chametz will be bought back at approximately 10:00pm on Sunday 20th April.
Thursday 10th April – 12 Nissan
Ta’anit Bechorot – Fast of the Firstborn
As we don’t fast on Friday or Shabbat, Ta’anit Bechorot is brought forward to Thursday. However, if a firstborn participates in a Siyum – the completion of learning a tractate of Gemara – they don’t need to fast. The Siyum will follow Shacharit on Thursday morning at 7.00am.
Bedikat Chametz – Search for Chametz
This year, since it can’t be done on Shabbat, it has to be done on Thursday evening, as soon after dark (8.32pm) as possible.
Before we begin the search, we make the brachah “Al biur Chametz”.
The search must be done by candlelight or with a torch.
After the search is completed, we make the declaration “Kol Chamira” to nullify the chametz.
A place that chametz was kept regularly (e.g. a food cupboard) that was cleaned and checked thoroughly at least three days before Bedikat Chametz, and it is certain that no chametz was put there afterwards – that place is now presumed to be free of chametz and according to halachah, is exempt from Bedikat Chametz. Therefore, the minhag is to give such places a quick search during Bedikat Chametz.
If someone has a shop or warehouse close to their home (walking distance) then the brachah they said for checking their home includes the second place, and walking there is not considered an interruption or a distraction. But if they have to drive in order to get there, they should say another brachah there.
Friday 11th April – 13th Nissan
Biur Chametz – Burning Chametz
Any chametz that was found during Bedikat Chametz must be burned on Friday morning by the latest 11.54am.
After the chametz has been burnt, we do not make the declaration “Kol Chamira” as we are retaining some chametz for use on Shabbat.
Preparations for the Seder
All preparations for the Seder have to be completed before Shabbat begins. Even those things that do not involve a melachah cannot be done on Shabbat as it is forbidden to prepare on Shabbat for Yom Tov.
Everything that is possible to prepare for the Seder should be done before Shabbat so that the Seder can begin as soon as Shabbat ends.
- The shankbone and egg have to be roasted before Shabbat. If someone forgot to roast them, they can be roasted on first night Yom Tov as long as they intend to eat them on first day Yom Tov and they can be roasted on second night Yom Tov as long as they intend to eat them on second day Yom Tov.
- Horseradish should be prepared before Shabbat and tightly sealed so that it does not lose its pungency. If it is prepared on Yom Tov, it should be done in a slightly different way to usual.
- Lettuce used for maror must be washed and checked before Shabbat, but it must not be left to soak over Shabbat otherwise it is invalid for use as maror. Therefore, the lettuce leaves should be dried as much as possible.
- Charoset which is ground or chopped and then mixed with wine should be prepared before Shabbat. If someone forgot, they can make it on Yom Tov by grinding in a slightly different way to usual. When making charoset on Yom Tov, only enough can be made for that night’s Seder as it is forbidden to prepare on one day Yom Tov for the next.
- It is preferable to prepare the salt water before Shabbat. If someone forgot, they can make a small amount for the Seder on Yom Tov.
Candle Lighting from an Existing Flame
Before lighting Shabbat candles, we have to light another candle that will last long enough so that the flame from this candle can be used to light candles for Yom Tov.
Shabbat 12th April – Erev Pesach
Keep only enough bread (e.g. challot, pitta etc.) for making hamotzi on Friday night and Shabbat day.
All other food for Shabbat should be kosher for Pesach, cooked using Pesach pots and eaten using Pesach crockery and cutlery or disposables.
Care should be taken to prevent any crumbs coming into contact with Pesach crockery and cutlery.
On Shabbat morning, we have to make hamotzi on bread, but we must stop eating chametz by the latest 10.45am. However, the Shabbat meal can continue after this time as it consists of kosher for Pesach food only.
Shabbat morning service will be 7.30am
Any chametz, including crumbs, that are left over must be disposed of by the latest 11.54am. It should be flushed down the toilet or put in a public bin, if it is within the Eruv.
After the disposal, we make the declaration “Kol Chamira” to nullify any chametz of which we are unaware.
Since seudah shlishit is eaten on Shabbat after the time when we can no longer have chametz, the meal can consist of fruit or meat and fish. We cannot eat matzah on erev Pesach because the first time we eat it has to be at the Seder.
Matzah Meal on Erev Pesach
We’re not allowed to eat matzah on Erev Pesach until the Seder. This prohibition includes items made with matzah meal such as cakes or biscuits, but items cooked or deep-fried such as kneidlach or fried fish balls are permitted.
Egg Matzah on Pesach
Ashkenazim do not allow Matzah Ashira – Egg Matzah on Pesach except for the old and infirm.
Yom Tov candles cannot be lit until Shabbat ends at 8.41pm. Before lighting, we say “Hamavdil bein kodesh l’kodesh” and then light from an existing flame.
Motzei Shabbat 12th April – 1st night Pesach
As we cannot prepare on Shabbat for Yom Tov, we have to wait until Shabbat ends before lighting Yom Tov candles from an existing flame after 8.41pm.
We should begin the Seder as soon as possible after this time and ensure that we eat the Afikoman by 1.00am.
Sunday 13th April – 2nd night Pesach
As we cannot prepare on one day Yom Tov for the next, no preparations for the Seder can be made until after 8.43pm.
We should light Yom Tov candles after 8.43pm from an existing flame.
We have to ensure that we eat the Afikoman by 1.00am.
Monday 14th April – 2nd day Pesach
Yom Tov ends at 8.45pm
If you have any specific questions, please contact any member of the Rabbinic Team