Rabbi Arthur Weiner

The last day of Passover (Tuesday, April 30 2024) is one of the four times of the year when we recite the series of prayers called the Yizkor service . Yizkor  (Hebrew, literally "remember") is a collection of memorial prayers recited by those who have lost a parent or a loved one.  Yizkor  is recited on Yom Kippur, on the eighth day of Sukkot ( Shemini Atzeret ), on the last day of Passover, and on the second day of Shavuot. The earliest source for  Yizkor  is in the  Midrash Tanchuma ,  which cites the custom of remembering the departed on Yom Kippur and pledging charity on their behalf. The Ashkenazi custom of reciting  Yizkor  on the last day of the festivals began during the Crusades when massacres wiped out many Jewish communities. The central part of  Yizkor  is the paragraph beginning with the words  Yizkor Elohim  (may God remember). Our siddurim (prayer books) have individualized paragraphs to be recited for a deceased mother, father, male relative (includin

Each year, we send the Sale of Chametz forms for you to return to the synagogue. Here is the link to the synagogue website where you can download the form right now! The form will also be found in the annual Passover bulletin that is being mailed to the congregation today. On Sunday morning, we are also sending a Passover email filled with resources and religious services schedule. The Sale of Chametz form will be found there as well. In other words, we are encouraging you to sell your chametz .   Today, I want to make sure that everyone understands what this mitzvah is all about, why it is so important, and how it adds to our understanding and observance of Passover First, let’s start with a simple definition of chametz The Bible prohibits the eating of leaven during the festival of Passover (Exodus 12:15-20). The Hebrew word chametz is translated as leavened bread and refers to any food prepared from five species of grain–wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye–that has been