Guide to the Jewish Year

Nisan

נִיסָן

Israeli: ' marks a reduced vowel that Israeli speech drops (b'rachah); when the vowel is pronounced it is written e (lefanecha). - separates syllables that would otherwise run together.

How to read the transliterations

or rendered inedible (e.g. by flushing it down the toilet), by the close of the first 5/12 of the day [שו״ע או״ח, תמד: ב].

211 When Erev Pesaḥ coincides with Shabbat, neither ḥametz nor matza may be eaten at Se'uda Shelishit (see laws 201, 206). Various remedies have been proposed: consuming matza that is not forbidden (see law 201) [שו״ע או״ח, תמד: א]; taking the meal without bread [רמ״א, שם]; or splitting the morning meal into two, with a pause midway and Birkat HaMazon recited between them [משנ״ב, שם: ח בשם הגר״א]. Certain congregations begin morning services early, so as to leave ample time for eating the morning meal and destroying any remaining ḥametz.

פֶּסַח

Pesaḥ (15th–16th day of Nisan)

212 Lighting of candles: Two blessings are recited: (1) לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, and (2) שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ. Should Pesaḥ eve fall on Friday night, the first blessing concludes: לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב.

213 Ma'ariv: for Shabbat and Yom Tov. Before reciting the Amida for Yom Tov (page 817), the congregation recites the special verse for Yom Tov (וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה). After the Amida, Hallel (page 777) is recited [שו״ע ורמ״א או״ח, תפז: ד]. Full Kaddish, Barekhu, Aleinu, and Mourner's Kaddish then follow. Kiddush is not recited in the synagogue. Customarily the service closes with the singing of Adon Olam or Yigdal.

214 Counting of the Omer (page 319) begins on the second night of Pesaḥ [שו״ע או״ח, תפט: א]. Some follow the custom of counting the first night of the Omer at the second Seder. (See laws 223–226.)

215 Should Pesaḥ eve fall on Friday night, a shortened version of Kabbalat Shabbat precedes Ma'ariv for Shabbat: Psalm 29, אָנָּא בְּכֹחַ, the first two and last two stanzas of לְכָה דוֹדִי, מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת and יהוה מָלָךְ, גָּאוּת לָבֵשׁ (page 377). בְּגַוַּנָּא is skipped. וְשָׁמְרוּ and the special verse for Yom Tov (וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה) (page 407) come before the Yom Tov Amida, which is recited with additions for Shabbat. After the Amida, the congregation recites וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, yet the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur does not recite the abbreviated Repetition of the Amida [שו״ע או״ח, תפז: א].

216 When either of the first two nights of Pesaḥ occurs on Motza'ei Shabbat, the congregation inserts the paragraph וַתּוֹדִיעֵנוּ into the Amida's middle section that night.

217 Shaḥarit: for Shabbat and Yom Tov (page 459). The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur for Shaḥarit starts from the words הָאֵל בְּתַעֲצֻמוֹת עֻזֶּךָ (page 509). After Barekhu, the congregation recites הַמֵּאִיר לָאָרֶץ or, should it also be Shabbat, הַכֹּל יוֹדוּךָ. The Amida for Yom Tov is recited (page 817); should it also be Shabbat, one recites the additions for Shabbat. Thereafter come Hallel, Full Kaddish, the Daily Psalm, Mourner's Kaddish, and bringing the Torah forth from the Ark. The congregation recites the "Thirteen Attributes of Mercy" and a special supplication (page 565), save on Shabbat.

218 Reading of the Torah: page 1177 on the first day; page 1181 on the second day. Five men are summoned, seven on Shabbat. Maftir: page 1179. Haftara: page 1179 on the first day; page 1183 on the second day [שו״ע או״ח, תפח: ג; שם, תצ: א].

219 After the Haftara come (Yekum Purkan on Shabbat, then) the prayers for the government and the State of Israel. The congregation recites Ashrei, and the Torah scrolls are restored to the Ark. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur recites Half Kaddish.

220 Musaf: for Festivals (page 857). On Shabbat, one recites the additions for Shabbat. Customarily the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur wears a kittel. The Repetition of the Amida starts as the Ark is opened, and the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur recites תפילת טל (page 893). From this point onward, מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ is no longer recited. The Kohanim recite Birkat Kohanim. After the Repetition of the Amida, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur recites Full Kaddish, and the service concludes as on Shabbat (page 623).

221 One stops reciting מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ in Musaf [שו״ע או״ח, תפח: ג]. Some follow the custom of reciting it in the silent Amida [משנ״ב, תפח: יא]. Should one mistakenly recite מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ during the spring and summer months, the Amida must be repeated. Should one notice the error after completing the blessing מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים, the Amida must be repeated from the beginning [שו״ע או״ח, קיד: ג].

222 Minḥa: for Shabbat and Yom Tov. When Pesaḥ coincides with Shabbat, the Torah is taken from the Ark and the start of the weekly portion is read. After restoring the Torah to the Ark, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur recites Half Kaddish, and the congregation recites the Amida for Yom Tov (page 817). צִדְקָתְךָ is not recited.

דִּינֵי סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר

LAWS CONCERNING SEFIRAT HAOMER

223 The Omer for a given day is counted after nightfall. The custom is to count while standing [שו״ע או״ח, תפט: א].

224 One who omits the count at night may count before nightfall of the following day, although no blessing is recited when counting during daylight hours [שם: ב].

225 One who omits counting for an entire 24-hour period goes on counting the Omer from the next day, yet without the blessing [שם: ח].

See law 252 regarding customary practices during the Omer counting period.

חֹל הַמּוֹעֵד פֶּסַח

Ḥol HaMo'ed of Pesaḥ

227 At Shaḥarit, Minḥa and Ma'ariv, יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא is inserted in the seventeenth blessing of the Amida (רְצֵה). It is likewise inserted in Birkat HaMazon (page 1039) [שו״ע או״ח,