Pre-Pesach

1) Rabbi Botnick is collecting ma'os chittim for individuals and for mivtzoim to make sure people are able to be mekayeim the mitzva of matzo properly. Your participation is greatly appreciated! If you need him to distribute ma’os chittim for you, please make sure to give it to him in time to distribute it for recipients to buy their Pesach needs. You may send an etransfer to donate@chabadottawa.ca marked ma’os chittim in the message.

2) Rabbi Botnick is available at +1 (613) 688-2025,,1 Sunday-Thursday 1:30-4:00 pm and in the mornings on Friday for Pesach shailos until the Monday before Pesach.

3) If you are aware of anyone who does not have and would use shmura matzo for the mitzvah, please contact Rabbi Botnick or have that person do so.

3a) If you will need to take any medications on Pesach, please Rabbi Botnick the brand name from the label of your prescription, what form it is in, and potency- as soon as possible. We are in contact with a frum pharmacist who can confirm that it does not contain chometz. (If it does, he will either suggest the equivalent medication made by a different company that does not, or we can discuss other solutions for taking necessary medications.)

4) To sell chometz:

a. Start by downloading the shtar here. If you need help understanding it, please call Rabbi Botnick. (For an English, but less comprehensive form, click here. The Hebrew one is preferable. This one is designed for mivtzoim). When filling out the shtar, please:

i.  remember to isolate one room or area cordoned off by a mechitza among the places you list to sell your chometz.

    ii.  If you make a mistake, don’t cross it out. Start a new shtar.

iii.  Indicate specific areas within each address where chometz will be in the notes column.

iv.  If you will not be at the location on Pesach include access information in the notes column or      attach a key.

v.  One line underneath your list of addresses and specific areas within the address, draw a line across the page. Leave enough space under your details to sign after making a kinyan with Rabbi Botnick as per the next step.

b. When completed, arrange to meet with Rabbi Botnick to make a kinyan. He will, then, take the shtar from you. If you are unable to meet, please call Rabbi Botnick at +16136882025,,1 to make other arrangements.

5) Bedikas Chometz is on Tuesday evening this year. All chometz that is to be eaten on Wednesday morning must be isolated, henceforth, as well as the chometz that is to be burned. The first bittul is recited.

6) Ta’anis B’choros-is on April 5, this year. We plan to make a siyum in shul. If anyone, who needs to, is unable to attend the siyum, please be sure to contact Rabbi Botnick in advance to make alternative arrangements.

7) Chometz may be eaten until 10:52 am Wednesday morning.

8) The area that you have designated to lease to the non-Jew to sell your chometz inside of should be sealed before the time of the burning of the chometz which is before 11:57 am of Wednesday morning. The second bittul is recited.

9) Braces or the like must be dealt with on Wednesday morning before 11:57 am.  If unsure what to do, please contact Rabbi Botnick.

10) All items should be prepared for the sedorim on Wednesday, this year.

11) The Sederorim must begin after 8:06 pm. Chatzos is 1:06 am the afikomen should be finished before this time on Wednesday evening.

12) On the first day of Yom Tov in mussaf, we will switch to saying morid hatal.

13) On Thursday evening, we begin to count sefiras ha’omer.

14) On Erev Shabbos, candles must be lit before: 7:20 pm.

15) Shabbos, the first day of chol hamoeid, hallel switches to “half hallel“, each morning. We begin to learn meseches Sotah

16) Sunday evening, we add ato chonontono and we also begin to say v’sen brocha in shmone esrei. (One who doesn’t daven maariv must say “Boruch hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol” before doing melocha.)

17) On Tuesday night, Shvi’i shel Pesach, it is our custom to stay up all night learning (until 4:44 am). Among other things, we learn this ma’amar.

18) Bring what you will need for Moshiach’s Seudah before Yom Tov (Tuesday) or when needed on Thursday, the last day of Pesach. 

19) Moshiach’s Seudah is on Thursday afternoon, the last day of Pesach, after mincha which will be at 5:30 pm.