Newsletter

With gratitude to HaKadosh Baruh Hu, we are excited to finally resume our Pesach programming in our temporary location for Tefillot and Shiurim throughout the holiday after the last two years!

Please stay tuned for future emails regarding how we will be observing this special holiday as the special community we are!

You are invited to join us for a dynamic and refreshing Pesach Seder with Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim!!

This year's Seder will be full of inspirational teachings, uplifting customs, soulful songs, and lively discussions - with you as an active participant! The Seder meal will feature Soft Matzot and a full-course dinner.

Members Rates
$50 per adult/$20 per child (4-12)

Non-Members Rates
$65 per adult/$30 per child (4-12)

Students and Active Military
$45 per adult

The Seder is open to Kehillah members and regulars (and their guests) only.

Gold and Platinum Members receive (2) complimentary tickets to this event.
Reply for details.

NOTE: The KSH Seder is meant to be an uplifting and transformational spiritual experience, not merely a communal dinner. As such, the Haggadah portion of the Seder is not rushed, but rather intentionally focused and elaborated on.

You are strongly encouraged to eat lunch and take an afternoon nap so that you will be well fed and rested for the Seder.

Don't tell us that you weren't warned! :)
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As per Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim's policy, no one will be turned away for lack of funds!

Please contact Rabbi Yonatan privately if you would like to join us and require assistance.

When registering, kindly consider sponsoring a reservation for someone else by leaving us a note in the proper field.

Rabbi Yonatan will be selling Chametz this year for Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim through Rabbi Moshe Benzaquen shlit"a of our Shiviti Bet Din in Los Angeles.

Sale will only work for those who will spend the entire holiday of Pesach in the Pacific time zone  

You may sell your Chametz by submitting your name, address, phone number and email address, using the form below.

Deadline
The deadline for selling Chametz through Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim is Wednesday, April 13th at 11pm.

In the opening paragraph of the Haggadah recited at the Seder, we declare: "All who are hungry, let them come and eat." Each of us as individuals make up a singular entity, and in order to experience freedom ourselves, we must ensure that our brothers and sisters have the means to celebrate freedom too.

Don't be left out of this special Mitzvah!

(Halachot from the Bet Midrash of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l)

The Laws of Searching for Chametz

One must search for Chametz by candlelight.  One is obligated to search in every room in the house where Chametz is found. The same applies regarding balconies, gardens, cars, and the like.

The Proper Time for the Search
The proper time for searching for Chametz is when three stars come out (if one was unable to search at this time he may still search and recite a blessing even later on during the night). One may not partake of bread or cake more than a “Kebetza” (approximately 54 grams) before searching for Chametz starting from a half-hour before the proper time of the search. Nevertheless, less than a Kebetza of bread or cake or even more than a Kebetza of fruits, vegetables, rice, and the like, may in fact be eaten before performing the search.

Sunset this year in San Diego is at approximately 7:18pm, which would make the proper time to search for Chametz 7:56pm.

The Customary Ten Pieces of Bread
Some have the custom to hide ten pieces of well-wrapped bread throughout the house, so that they may be found by the person searching for Chametz. Those who follow this custom should be exceedingly careful to write down the locations of the ten pieces of Chametz, so that in the event that one (or more) piece(s) is/are not found, they will be able to be located using this list.

Renouncing Chametz
After completing the search for Chametz, one must verbally nullify the Chametz by reciting:

“Kol Chamira De’Ika Birshuti De’La Chazitei U’dla Bi’artei Livtil Velehevei Ke’Afra De’Ar’ah.”
(English Translation: “Any Chametz (leaven) which is in my possession, which I have not seen and I have not destroyed, is hereby nullified and should be considered like the dust of the earth.”)

One must recite this verbal renunciation in a language one understands, for if not, one does not fulfill one’s obligation of renouncing Chametz. It is customary to repeat the text of the renunciation three times in order to strengthen the matter.

As with every year, firstborns have a custom to on the Eve of Pesach.

Fast begins:

5:02am

This year, it is suggested to study something short that will be considered an accomplishment for you - and make a Siyum with the members of your household tomorrow morning.

A suggested text to study is Pirke Avot, Mishnah of Sukkah, or the Laws of Pesach in the Rambam. Links below.

Latest time for eating Chametz
סוף זמן אכילת חמץ

10:39am

Latest time for burning Chametz
סוף זמן ביעור חמץ

11:44am

The Rabbi will be burning Chametz publicly this year at his home at 11:15am.
Do not bring aything wrapped in plastic or aluminum.

On the morning of the 14th of Nissan, meaning this year (5782) which falls out on Friday morning, one must eliminate Chametz before the last time to do so arrives. All Chametz must be burnt (or renounced), and sold by this time. 

The Mitzvah is to get rid of the Chametz - not burn it, necessarily.

The following options are suggested for those who cannot burn Chametz:

1. Donate to the poor, homeless, or non-Jewish organization that helps provide food for the needy.
OR
2. Discard in the black trash cans outside, as they become city property. 

A special Hebrew/English Sephardic Haggadah has been made available for your use!