Hi everyone!
It’s been a busy week so far with mega-Seders and all the Passover wonders. But there’s lots more Passover still to come.
Thursday, April 12: Beginning of the 7th day of Passover
The last two days of Passover are again "holy days." Once again, this holiday is treated like Shabbat, with the exception of being able to do things that involve food preparation, such as cooking, carrying outside, etc.
► Join us for a holiday dinner at 7:30 pm.
On this evening, many people have a custom to stay up all night studying Torah, commemorating the night of anticipation the Jews spent at the edge of the Red Sea. You're welcome to borrow our books and try!
Friday, April 13: The 7th Day of Passover
The holiday commemorating the splitting of the Red Sea. We read that story in the Torah reading of the day.
► Holiday lunch at 1 pm.
Tonight we usher in the eighth day of Pesach, a holiday unique to the Diaspora. While the 7th day commemorates the Splitting of the Sea, the 8th day -- according to Jewish mysticism -- celebrates the Moshiach with the final Redemption.
Candles are to be lit at (or just before) 7:18 pm from a pre-existing flame.
► Holiday dinner at 7:30 pm. We will probably start a little late.
Saturday, April 14: The 8th day of Passover
► One last time, a festive holiday meal is eaten at 1 pm.
According to a tradition instituted by the Ba'al Shem Tov, after Mincha (afternoon services) on the last day of Pesach, we sit down to a special celebration known as "Moshiach's Feast." As at the Seder, this feast consists of Matzah and four cups of wine, as well as singing, words of inspiration, and a palpable feeling of yearning to finally celebrate the feast with Moshiach himself.
Moshiach's Feast: Re-experience the Seder, this time with the emphasis not on the past, but on the future. We will meet at Chabad at 5:05 pm, for a brisk walk to Chabad of Greater St. Louis (Delmar and Old Bonhomme) for Mincha. We will return about 8:45, after the holiday.
Passover concludes after nightfall (8:18 pm). At this point, bread may be eaten once again. However, for any Chametz that you sold for Pesach, approximately a half-hour leeway should be granted, so that the Rabbi has enough time to purchase the Chametz back.
Join us for Pizza (and post-Pesach cleanup!) - 10:00 pm.
Last year at our Seders we all called out: "Next year in Jerusalem!" May this year indeed finally be the year.
Chag Sameach!
Chana and Rabbi Hersh Novack
