Mah nishtanah: How is this year different from all other years? 

Posted on March 19, 2021

March 19 5781

Mah nishtanah: How is this year different from all other years?

1. All other years, some people are struggling financially; this year many people are struggling financially. If you can use some Passover assistance and have not already spoken to me, please let me know. If you have made (or will make) a contribution to my discretionary fund to help make this assistance possible, thank you!

2. Most other years the fast of the firstborn is the day of the first seder. This year the siyyum instead of the fast of the firstborn is a couple of days earlier, on the Thursday before the Saturday night seder.  If you are a firstborn child of any gender, this applies to you. After all, the Torah says that there was not an Egyptian home that did not have a loss; that would not be possible if only first-born males died. This coming Thursday, we will complete our learning of Mishnah Megillah and celebrate with a breakfast. The fast will no longer be necessary.  Minyan at 7:30, the siyyum to follow. Bring your own breakfast to the zoom.  Note that the search for hametz is on Thursday night.

3. Most other years, the first seder falls on a weekday evening. This year first seder falls on Saturday night.

4. All other years, yizkor is on the final day of Passover. Services on the final day of Passover will be by Live Stream and will not have a minyan. So this year, yizkor will take place on Friday evening, April 2nd, at 5:45, by zoom, in place of our normal Kabbalat Shabbat.

5. Five? Isn’t 4 the magic seder number?

All other years, the rabbi urges you to appoint her your agent to sell your leftover hametz so you don’t own it on Passover. This includes whisky, scotch, beer, and all other liquors made from grains such as wheat and barley. This year I urge you to appoint me as your agent to sell your leftover hametz so that you don’t own it on Passover. You can find the form in this email or on our website and please avail yourself of this opportunity. I have arranged to sell our hametz to a local clergy person.

Oh, wait, that is the same as every year.  I should have stuck to 4! Nonetheless, if you have not already done so, please send in your sell-the-hametz form.

I am very much looking forward to Zoom Kabbalat Shabbat this evening. Everyone’s participation is eagerly anticipated. And as of this writing, there are still a few openings for singing l’kha dodi verses, sign up here.

B’vrakhah, Rabbi Spitzer