Guide to the Jewish Year

Nisan

נִיסָן

Visible layers

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

211 If Erev Pesaḥ falls on Shabbat, for Se'uda Shelishit one can eat neither ḥametz nor matza (see laws 201, 206). Several solutions have been suggested: to eat matza which is not forbidden (see law 201) [שו״ע או״ח, תמד: א]; to eat the meal without bread [רמ״א, שם]; or to divide the morning meal in two, pausing in the middle and saying Birkat HaMazon in between [משנ״ב, שם: ח בשם הגר״א]. Some congregations hold morning services early, in order to allow ample time to eat the morning meal and destroy any ḥametz which is left.

פֶּסַח

Pesaḥ (15th–16th of Nisan)

212 Candle lighting: Two blessings are said: (1) לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, and (2) שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ. When Pesaḥ eve falls on Friday night, the conclusion of the first blessing is: לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב.

213 Ma'ariv: for Shabbat and Yom Tov. The congregation says the special verse for Yom Tov (וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה), before saying the Amida for Yom Tov (page 817). After the Amida, Hallel (page 777) is recited [שו״ע ורמ״א או״ח, תפז: ד]. This is followed by Full Kaddish, Barekhu, Aleinu, and Mourner's Kaddish. Kiddush is not said in the synagogue. It is customary to conclude with the singing of Adon Olam or Yigdal.

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

215 When Pesaḥ eve falls on Friday night, Ma'ariv for Shabbat is preceded by an abbreviated version of Kabbalat 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 omitted. וְשָׁמְרוּ and the special verse for Yom Tov (וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה) (page 407) precede the Yom Tov Amida, which is said with additions for Shabbat. After the Amida, the congregation says וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, but the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur does not say the abbreviated Repetition of the Amida [שו״ע או״ח, תפז: א].

216 If either of the first two nights of Pesaḥ falls on Motza'ei Shabbat, the congregation adds the paragraph וַתּוֹדִיעֵנוּ in the middle section of the Amida on that night.

217 Shaḥarit: for Shabbat and Yom Tov (page 459). The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur for Shaḥarit begins from the words הָאֵל בְּתַעֲצֻמוֹת עֻזֶּךָ (page 509). After Barekhu, the congregation says הַמֵּאִיר לָאָרֶץ or, if it is also Shabbat, הַכֹּל יוֹדוּךָ. The Amida for Yom Tov is said (page 817); if also Shabbat, one says the additions for Shabbat. This is followed by Hallel, Full Kaddish, the Daily Psalm, Mourner's Kaddish and taking the Torah from the Ark. The congregation says the "Thirteen Attributes of Mercy" and a special supplication (page 565), except on Shabbat.

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

219 The Haftara is followed by (Yekum Purkan on Shabbat, then) the prayers for the government and the State of Israel. The congregation says Ashrei, and the Torah scrolls are returned to the Ark. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says Half Kaddish.

220 Musaf: for Festivals (page 857). On Shabbat, one says the additions for Shabbat. It is customary for the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur to wear a kittel. The Repetition of the Amida begins with the opening of the Ark, and the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says תפילת טל (page 893). From this point on, מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ is no longer said. The Kohanim say Birkat Kohanim. After the Repetition of the Amida, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says Full Kaddish, and the conclusion of the service is as for Shabbat (page 623).

221 One ceases to say מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ in Musaf [שו״ע או״ח, תפח: ג]. Some have the custom to say it in the silent Amida [משנ״ב, תפח: יא]. If one erroneously says מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ in the spring and summer months, one must repeat the Amida. If one realizes the error after completing the blessing מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים, one must repeat the Amida from the beginning [שו״ע או״ח, קיד: ג].

222 Minḥa: for Shabbat and Yom Tov. When Pesaḥ falls on Shabbat, the Torah is taken from the Ark and the beginning of the portion of the week is read. After returning the Torah to the Ark, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says Half Kaddish, and the congregation says the Amida for Yom Tov (page 817). צִדְקָתְךָ is not said.

דִּינֵי סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר

LAWS OF SEFIRAT HAOMER

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

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

225 One who forgets to count for an entire 24-hour period continues counting the Omer from the following day, but without the blessing [שם: ח].

226 Regarding customary practices during the Omer counting period, see law 252.

חֹל הַמּוֹעֵד פֶּסַח

Ḥol HaMo'ed Pesaḥ

227 During Shaḥarit, Minḥa and Ma'ariv, יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא is added to the seventeenth blessing of the Amida (רְצֵה). It is also added to Birkat HaMazon (page 1039) [שו״ע או״ח,