Special Features

PESACH
We stop asking for TAL U'MATAR with Mincha on Erev Pesach. We continue to say MASHIV HARUACH in Maariv and Shacharit of the first day of Pesach. Then we say T'FILAT TAL and from Musaf of the first day of Pseach, we will be saying MORID HATAL. And at Maariv following Yom Tov, we will begin saying V'TEIN BRACHA in the weekday Amida.

If one mistakenly says MASHIV HARUACH U'MORID HAGASHEM after T'FILAT TAL, the Amida is considered invalid and must be repeated. Catching oneself within the second bracha of the Amida, requires backtracking to the beginning of that bracha and saying from there - ATA GIBOR...

Forgetting MORID HATAL (but not saying MHUH either) does not require repeating or even returning to say it.

First Day of Pesach
First Torah - five people, 31 p'sukim
Sh'mot 12:21-51 (Parshat BO)
This portion is the continuation of what we read on Shabbat HaChodesh. It contains the actual procedures to be followed in the bringing of the Korban Pesach, the account of the night of the tenth plague, the Exodus, the Exodus-Matza connection, reference to Leil Shimurim, and mitzvot related to K.P.

Second Torah - the Maftir, 10 p'sukim
Bamidbar 28:16-25 (Pinchas)
Contains the Korban Musaf of Pseach. Begins with Korban Pesach on the 14th and repetition of the "comand" to eat matza for seven days.

Haftara: Yehoshua 5:2-6:1 - 15 p'sukim
The Torah tells us of Pesach Mitzrayim, and then of the first annual Pesach. After that, KP was not brought for the duration of the time in the Midbar. The haftara tells of the mass circumcision at Gilgal of the males who were below military age when we came out of Egypt and those born in the Midbar. Following the Mila (which is a prerequisite of KP), the first Pesach in Eretz Yisrael was observed. The Manna ceased and the new People of Israel ate from the harvest of the Land for the first time. Yehoshua meets an angel and is about to begin to preparation for battle against Yericho, the first step in conquering the Land.

Second day (Monday Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - 3 people, 52 p'sukim
Vayikra 22:26-23:44 (EMOR)
The bulk of the reading is The Festival Portion, chapter 23 in Vayikra. It deals with the entire cycle of holidays, all of which revolve around Pesach, all of which in some way commemorate the Exodus. The reading contains the mitzva of the Omer which was brought on the second day of Pseach. Perfect timing. The Festival Portion is preceded by several p'sukim that deal with sacrifices and with the mitzvot of Kiddush HaShem. Reference is made to G-d's taking us out of Egypt - definitely part of the reason for "adding" this to the Festival portion.
Second Torah - 4th Aliya, 7 p'sukim
Bamidbar 28:19-25 (Pinchas)
Contains just the Musaf of Pseach, without the first 3 p'sukim read on the first day only.

Third day - Tuesday Chol HaMoed
First Torah - three people, 16 p'sukim
Sh'mot 13:1-16 (Parshat BO)
This is the continuation of the reading of the first day of Pseach. It consists of two parshiot known as KADEISH and V'HAYA KI Y'VI'ACHA, which join the first two portions of the Sh'ma as the four parshiot in T'filin. The reading contains the mitzvot of the sanctity of firstborns, which derives from the events in Mitzrayim. Extensive reference to Pesach is also found here.
2nd Torah - 4th Aliya, same as day 2

Fourth day (Wed. Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - three people, 26 p'sukim
Sh'mot 22:24-23:19 (MISHPATIM)
This portion contains many mitzvot including those related to the Three Festivals. The opening mitzvot of this portion deal with Tzedaka. This is particularly appropriate in light of the practice of KIMCHA D'PISCHA, providing for the Pseach needs of the poor. 
2nd Torah - 4th Aliya, same as day 2

Fifth day (Thursday Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - three people, 26 p'sukim
This portion deals with the second set of Luchot that cut, having previously smashed the first set in the wake of the Golden Calf. It contains the YUD-GIMMEL MIDOT, the 13 Divine Attributes of G-d. The Torah continues with the plans to bring the people into Eretz Yisrael, and with the warnings that must be heeded when we go into the Land. Then comes the commands about Pesach and the other Festivals, and the mitzva of Aliya L'Regel.
2nd Torah - 4th Aliya, same as day 2

Sixth day (Friday Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - three people, 14 p'sukim
Bamidbar 9:1-14 (B'HAALOT'CHA)
This portion deals with the first (and only) Korban Pseach brought in the Wilderness. It also contains the mitzvot of Pesach Sheni.
2nd Torah - 4th Aliya, same as day 2

Seventh day of Pesach (Shabbat)
Many shuls follow the custom of reading Shir HaShirim before Torah reading on Shabbat Chol HaMoed. When there is no Shabbat Chol HaMoed, then Shir HaShirim is read on Shabbat Yom Tov, either the first or last day of Pesach, as the case may be. This year, the last day of Pesach is Shabbat. When it is read from a kosher megila scroll, two brachot are recited: AL MIKRA MEGILA and SHE'HE'CHE'YANU. The love between G-d and Israel is the theme of Shir HaShirim. That love was forged in Egypt.
First Torah - seven people, 63 p'sukim
Sh'mot 13:17-15:26 (from B'SHALACH)

This reading is the continuation of the reading from the fourth day, which was a continuation of the first day, which was a continuation of Parshat HaChodesh. This portion contains the events immediately following Y'tzi'at Mitzrayim, mainly the Splitting of the Sea the drowning of the Egyptians, and the Song of the Sea - AZ YASHIR. Our tradition is that it was on the seventh day of Pesach that we crossed Yam Suf.
2nd Torah - Maftir, same as day 2

Haftara: 2 Shmuel 22:1-51 - 51 p'sukim
This chapter is the Song of King David. It is written in exactly the same special style as AZ YASHIR is written in a Torah scroll. The haftara for the final day of Pesach is the exultant hymn of thanksgiving to G-d. On gets the sense, when following Torah with Haftara of B'CHOL DOR VADOR - in every generation...

A Pesach Thought...
In explaining the significance of the question-answer method of transmitting the story of the Exodus – actually, in transmitting all of Torah Judaism to the next generation – Rabbi S.R. Hirsch points out a simple but elegant truth: A human being ASKS. This quality distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom.

As already mentioned, questions and answers are not, and should not, be restricted to the Seder table. The Jewish child should be encouraged and prompted to ask questions all the time. SH'AL AVICHA V'YAGEIDCHA... Ask your father and he will tell you. This is how our Tradition and Way of Life is transmitted from one generation to the next. Pesach night is the model of this method of education. We have to learn from the Seder experience to continue the education throughout the year.

MA NISHTANA can apply to many experiences of the Jewish child. He should be encouraged to ask – about Shabbat, the other Chagim, davening, G'milut Chasadim... all areas of Torah and Mitzvot – and he should receive good answers, on his level. That is what we learn from the Four Children of the Hagada.

The G’matriya of the whole pasuk, EITZ CHAYIM HI... is 1518. That’s the G’matriya of MA NISHTANA HALAILA HAZEH MIKOL HALEILOT. Significant? Don’t know

Remember: If you ask a CHACHAM or TAM question and get a satisfactory answer, then you become the SHE-EINO YODEI'A LISH'OL. But chances are good that there is still much more to learn about the very same topic you originally asked about. So keep asking, keep learning, and never be satisfied to be "the one who doesn't know to ask".

ASK THE REBBE
from the virtual desk of the OU Vebbe Rebbe 
The Orthodox Union – via its website – fields questions of all types in the areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of the questions are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli, zt"l to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad. The Ask the Rabbi project is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah... 

Question: After weeks of Pesach cleaning, I have in the past found chametz on or after Pesach. What should I do when I find it? Does it mean that I have sinned accidentally?

Answer: You need not feel guilty for missing chametz for the following reasons: 

(1) One who checks properly (as a human can) has fulfilled his mitzvah and does not violate the prohibition to possess chametz. This is because it is an oness (beyond control) or because, according to some, one violates the prohibition only on known chametz (see Ran and P’nei Yehoshua on Pesachim 2a; Pesachim 6a, 6b, 21a with commentaries); 
(2) Insignificant crumbs do not count for this prohibition (Pesachim 6b); 
(3) To solve the problem of significant chametz, which can cause problems, once found, the rabbis instituted bitul (nullification of) chametz.

If one finds chametz on Pesach, he may not rely on the bitul but should destroy it at the first opportunity (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 446:1). If one finds it on Yom Tov, it is muktza and should be covered with a vessel to avoid the possibility that it will be eaten accidentally (ibid.).

The prohibition on chametz which was in Jewish possession, after Pesach (chametz she-avar alav ha-Pesach) is a rabbinic injunction designed against those who violated the prohibition of possession. To strengthen the effectiveness of the injunction, it was applied even to the cases where the owner of the chametz should not be blamed for the mishap or did bitul (Shulchan Aruch 448:3,5). Thus, if one finds (unsold) chametz in his house after Pesach, he should throw it out.

“Ask the Rabbi” Q&A is part of this week’s Hemdat Yamim, the parsha sheet published by Eretz Hemdah. You can read this section or the entire Hemdat Yamim at www.ou.org or www.eretzhemdah.org. If you would like to receive Hemdat Yamim by e-mail, on a weekly basis, please send an e-mail to lists@eretzhemdah.org with the message Join Hemdatya Please leave the subject blank.

Hasidic Wisdom, from the book by Simcha Raz (Elkins/Elkins)
If you want to pull someone out of the mire, it is not enough to stand above them with an outstretched hand. You yourself have to climb into the muck, immersing yourself fully in the mud. Only then can you grasp them with both hands and pull them out with you.
- Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin

Rite and Reason by Shmuel Pinchas Gelbard
Q In the margins of the Kiddush page in some old illustrated Haggados there are drawings of a rabbit hunt. How come?
A When Seder night falls on Motza'ei Shabbat (as it does this year), the procedure for reciting Kiddush is YAKNEHAZ (see last week's Seder insert for details on this). This acronym evokes the German word Jaagenhaaz, which means "rabbit hunt".
Q Some people dip the eggs in salt water before eating. Why is this?
A To recall the overthrow of Sedom which occurred on the night of Pesach, and Lot's wife who was punished "measure for measure" by being transformed into a block of salt. Her stingy treatment of visitors was the antithesis of our announcing at the beginner of the Seder: "Whoever is hungry, come and eat!" (Sefer HaToda'ah)
Q Some leave the cup of Eliyahu full and covered all night and recite Kiddush on it the next day (Chatam Sofer). Why is this?
A This is based on the maxim (Brachot 39b), "Since one mitzva was performed with it, let us do yet another mitzva with it."
RITE and REASON is available at local Sfarim stores, in the original Hebrew as well as in English translation. It makes a great gift... even for yourself!

[The Tzav-Hagadol-Pesach Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]