Dear BSO Congregant,

This coming Shabbat, April 2-3, 2004, Nisan 12, 5764 we will read Parshat Tzav (annual cycle – Leviticus 6:1-8:36; triennial cycle – Leviticus 8:1-8:36).

This Shabbat is also known as Shabbat Hagadol (the great Shabbat). It is the name we always assign to the Shabbat which immediately precedes Passover, no matter what Torah portion we read on this Shabbat. One explanation for this name derives from the Haftarah of Shabbat Hagadol which is structured to conclude with the following verse from Malachi 3:23:

“Lo I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the Lord.”

In the Hebrew text this day is referred to as “Yom HaShem Hagadol v’hanora.” The reference to Elijah the prophet makes this an especially appropriate Haftarah to be read on the Shabbat before Passover and the reference to the word “ha-gadol – great” gives the Haftarah its special name.

The complete Haftarah reading is from Malachi 3:4-24; 3:23 is repeated.

The holy days of Passover begin with the ceremony of “hadlakat nerot – candle lighting.” There are five different nights during Passover when we are commanded to light either Yom Tov or Shabbat candles. In this message I will list the nights we are commanded to light candles and explain why the time changes some of the evenings by approximately one hour.

The time to light candles on Shabbat and Yom Tov is generally accepted to be around sunset. The time for Shabbat or Yom Tov to end is generally accepted to be approximately the time when it gets dark (which is later than sunset). Exactly how to compute the appropriate candle lighting time and the exact time at which Shabbat should end is a complicated process, so we use general rules to help us come as close as possible.

The accepted custom in our congregation and elsewhere is to light candles 18 minutes before the astronomical sunset. In this part of the hemisphere we can safely assume that it is dark approximately one hour after candle lighting time. Therefore we end Shabbat or Yom Tov 25 hours after candle lighting time. For example, this coming Shabbat, Friday, April 2, 2004, candle lighting time in our area will be at 6:13 P.M. and Shabbat will end on Saturday night, April 3 at approximately 7:13 P.M.

If what is written above is clear, then read below. If not, then read the above again.

REMINDER: Saturday night we switch to Daylight Savings time, so we lose an hour of sleep. Remember to set your clock back one hour on Saturday night. This will also change the Shabbat and Yom Tov candle lighting times. From now until the fall, they will appear an hour later than otherwise stated in some calendars.

The next time we are commanded to light candles is to begin the festival of Passover on Monday night, April 5. Candle lighting for this evening is set at 7:17 P.M.

(On Shabbat and on certain nights of Yom Tov including the first night of Passover it is permitted to light candles earlier to add moments of holiness to Shabbat or Yom Tov. Therefore, on Monday evening it is permitted to light candles somewhat earlier than 7:17 P.M. This is the latest appropriate time for candle lighting to begin the holiday).

The next time we are commanded to light candles is on Tuesday evening, April 6. The appropriate time to light candles this evening is 8:18 P.M. Here the practice is just the opposite from the first night. One should not light candles before this time on April 6. After 8:18 P.M. candle lighting is permitted, but not before, according to strict observance of Jewish law.

The reason for this is because one is not permitted to light the candles to begin the second day of Yom Tov (Yom Tov Sheni) until the first day is completely finished. Yom Tov Sheni is a rabbinic addition observed by Orthodox, and many Conservative Jews. It compensates for inaccuracies in ancient dating methods. However, even among Orthodox Jews, there is an understanding that according to Jewish law Yom Tov Sheni is not quite as holy as the first day. The end of the first day should not be compromised by lighting candles on the second night before the first day has ended. As stated earlier the holiness of that day lasts 25 hours.

The next time we are commanded to light candles is Friday night, April 9 to begin Shabbat Hol HaMoed Pesah. The time for candle lighting on Friday night, April 9 is 7:21 P.M.

The next time we are commanded to light candles is on Sunday evening, April 11 to begin the 7th day of Passover. The time for lighting candles on April 11 is 7:23 P.M.

The next and last time we are commanded to light candles in observance of Passover is on Monday, April 12 at 8:24 P.M. Once again this is the beginning of Yom Tov Sheni, or the additional day of Yom Tov. The 7th day is commanded in the Torah; the 8th day is a rabbinic addition. Once again, we wait until the 7th day is complete, a full 25 hours, before we light candles at 8:24 PM on Monday, April 12. If it is your custom to light a yahrtzeit candle on the 8th night in observance of yizkor, it is actually prohibited to do so prior to 8:24 P.M. on that evening.

The festival of Passover ends on Tuesday, April 13 at 8:25 P.M.

More practical halachic advice:

On the first two nights of Passover, Monday, April 5 and Tuesday, April 6, both the blessings “…L’hadlik nayr shel yom tov,” and “…She-hehiyanu” are recited.

On Friday night, April 9 only the blessing for Shabbat candles “…L’hadlik nayr shel Shabbat” is recited.

On Sunday night, April 11 and Monday night, April 12 only the blessing “…L’hadlik nayr shel yom tov” is recited.

Our Friday night April 2nd Family/Birthday/Anniversary service will begin at 7:30 P.M.

Our Shabbat morning service on April 3rd will begin at 9:00 A.M.

Our Shabbat Minha service on April 3rd will begin at 12:30 P.M.

Our service on Sunday morning, April 4th will begin at 8:45 A.M.

Our Siyum B’chorim (service for the first born) on Monday morning, April 5th will begin at 6:30 AM.

Please check the newsletter or the BSO website for a complete listing of Passover services. Also, please be aware that the major Passover morning services (April 6, 7, 10, 12, and 13) will begin at 9:15 A.M.

The e-mail D’var Torah will resume in three weeks.

Shabbat Shalom v’Pesah kasher v’samayah,

Rabbi Philip Pohl