This is an unusual time during which to be celebrating any holiday.  Below, please find some guides as to what to do, what not to do, and what deviations from your usual Passover practice are not only acceptable, but expected. 

Information from Rabbi Lowenthal – Selling Chametz

Please fill out this form to complete mechiras chametz:

Sell Chametz through Rabbi Willig

Information from Congregation Kol Israel’s Rabbi Reinstein

The following has been extracted from email to the Congregation Kol Israel. 

As Pesach comes near, we are all grappling with how this year will be different than all other years. This year, our main concern should be safety of ourselves and those around us – instead of Pesach prep. At the bottom of this letter, I have shared a joint statement of guidelines from a variety of religious institutions, regarding being with others for Pesach this year.

The key points are:

• No one should be hosting guests from out of town or traveling yourself for Pesach.
• One should not invite guests for the Seder or other Yom Tov meals, unless there is a particular need. If that is the case, please reach out to me and I will consult with appropriate medical professionals as necessary.

A personal note about Pesach: This year is going to be different, and while that causes problems, it also creates opportunities. You do not need to try and recreate the seder you have done in the past. Think about how this year’s circumstances can lend themselves to something different.

In that vein, as I say every year, Pesach cleaning DOES NOT need to be spring cleaning. Additionally, Shulchan Orech (the festive Seder meal), does not need to be a four-course feast – it needs to be a meal, nothing more. Especially for those with young children or those that are making Pesach for the first time, do not feel any pressure to have this Pesach be the same as previous ones. It isn’t, and that’s okay.

Here are some excellent resources on preparing for Pesach:

• Rabbi Rothwachs, from my hometown shul in Teaneck
• CRC guide
• OU guide
• Rabbanit Leah Sarna made an excellent Minimalist’s Guide
• Kashering videos from the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County

There are a variety of minhagim/halachot that should be different this year.

1. Mechirat (selling of) Chametz: Everyone should sell their Chametz, whether or not it is your usual practice. This year, Rav Shachter has put out that even those that do not usually sell their chametz can do so this year. Fill out this form to sell your chametz
2. Biur (burning of) Chametz: The night before erev Pesach we search for chametz and the next day we burn it – this year we should not go to any public burnings. As per the Mishna Brurah we should crumble the chametz and throw it to the sea (the toilet, in our case). If that’s not possible, throwing it out and pouring bleach on it to make it inedible suffices as well.
3. Fast of the first born: Unless you are making a siyum, those who are first born should not fast this year. This is the most lenient fast of the year, and is certainly superseded by the health concerns that fasting would cause a reduced immune system.
4. Yizkor on the 8th day should be said at home. All of Yizkor can be said without a minyan, other than kaddish.
5. Maot Chittin: It is customary to give donations to the poor and to the shul before Pesach. Please consider doing so. There is much need out there and we are trying to do our hardest to help that need. Additionally, the shul still has expense, as many are understandably worried about their own finances, or graciously giving to other causes. Please consider the shul as well during this time so we can continue to provide everything above. You can donate to either at ckibrooklyn.org/donate, just specify the reason.

In the Haggadah, there is a large focus on Rabbi Akiva. Out of all of the rabbis in the Talmud, Rabbi Akiva is one that exhibits hope in the face of adversity. We must have his faith and continue to pray for a future where we are all together again in the very near future. 

Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Sam Reinstein

Congregation Kol Israel

Joint Statement to the Orthodox Community Regarding Pesach

March 23, 3:30 PM EDT

Rabbinic leaders and organizations across the Orthodox spectrum have, individually, declared the health threat presented by COVID-19 a mortal threat (sakanas nefashos). We, leaders of major American Orthodox Jewish organizations, join together again to further clarify our shared and firm guidance for our communities.

We have heretofore urged not only full compliance with all health guidance issued by federal, state and local governments, but have gone beyond those pronouncements in urging our communities to remain at home and avoid, to the maximum extent feasible, any outside interactions.

With regard to the upcoming Pesach holiday, we note specifically the following critical mandates, shared in consultation with leading infectious disease and public health experts:

1. We are accustomed to honoring Pesach to the fullest degree, including taking haircuts, purchasing new clothing and tableware, and preparing the fullest menus. This year’s public health crisis mandates us to significantly limit all of the above. Our responsibility is to refrain from any NON-ESSENTIAL outside interactions, including especially in-store shopping. If there is a need for truly ESSENTIAL purchases, send one family member only – who is neither ill, vulnerable, nor of known exposure to COVID-19 – as rarely and as briefly as possible. Stores serving the community should shift to home delivery or drive-by parking lot pick-up of pre-orders, and – to the extent this is not possible – must take substantive steps to minimize crowding, maintain hygiene, and maximize social distancing.

We will truly honor Pesach by limiting our purchases to the truly ESSENTIAL, ensuring that all of us – especially the vulnerable – are able to celebrate Pesach in good health. We must STAY HOME; SAVE LIVES.

2. The Pesach plans of many have been completely upended. This creates severe difficulty for so many. We are deeply sympathetic to this enormous difficulty. Nevertheless, public health demands strict adherence to the current guidance. Travel to other cities must be cancelled, whether to vacation venues (Florida, etc.) or to family. Everyone must plan to celebrate Pesach where they are currently.

Individuals living alone or those absolutely unable to prepare for Pesach may choose to self-quarantine for 14 days, and then – if asymptomatic – may join with a welcoming local family that is similarly asymptomatic and that has been disciplined in staying home and limiting their interactions outside the home to the absolute minimum as described above.

These guests may join one family only for the duration, without additional company, and must carefully observe the mandated standards of scrupulous hygiene and social distancing. The elderly and high risk must seek medical advice before considering this.

STAY HOME; SAVE LIVES

We urge one and all – while strictly maintaining the prescribed guidelines – to look out for each other by reaching out to and providing for each other, especially those living alone.

We hope and pray that our sincere tefillos (prayers) and chassadim (acts of kindness) will move Hashem to swiftly remove this plague from the world and bless us all with health, peace and tranquility.

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel of America

Rabbi Mendy Mirocznick, Executive Vice-President, Igud HaRabbanim – Rabbinical Alliance of America

Rabbi Shmuel Blech, Chairman, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Weisberg, Co-Chair, The Lakewood Vaad

Farley Weiss, President, National Council of Young Israel

Moishe Bane, President, Allen Fagin, Executive Vice President, the Orthodox Union

Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, President, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive Vice President, Rabbinical Council of America