Thank you to everyone who joined us last night at the Q&A. It was great to see and hear from everyone. If you missed it, you can watch it here or listen here.
I will deliver a mini-shiur (around 15-20 minutes or so) about issues related to davening alone on weekdays, Shabbos, and Pesach tomorrow (Thursday, March 26) at 7:30 pm. To join online, please use this link: https://ramaz.zoom.us/j/7068202779
To join from a phone, please dial: (646) 558-8656; meeting ID is 706 820 2779
I want to take the opportunity to clarify a few matters and to share more resources available:
1) I’ve been asked to clarify that if you would like to donate to ma’os chittim, you may mail your checks to the shul. Mail is still being monitored, and we will ensure that donations are properly distributed. Please let me know if you know of anyone in need.
2) Last night, I mentioned that one can declare their new pots and pans as hefker, in light of the difficulties of reaching a keilim mikveh before Pesach. I was informed that the Beth Din of America is arranging several sales of pots/pans/utensils for those who would like to do that instead. Click here for more information.
3) To revise a point made in previous communication, I am generally recommending that bi’ur chametz be performed by flushing down the bread crumbs instead of burning them. One only needs a k’zayis (olive’s worth) total of bread to fulfill the custom of bedikas chametz, and that is the amount that should be flushed down. Otherwise, declare any other chametz you wish to dispose of as hefker if the trash will still be on your property at the time for destroying chametz.
4) After the call, I spoke with one of my poskim and learned that he is lenient to permit kashering dishwashers for Pesach, even during a “regular” Pesach. Of course, many people may already have a longstanding minhag to not do so, and you may continue to maintain that stringency if you wish. Here are the instructions for doing so, if you wish:
a) Leave unused for 24 hours.
b) Inspect the racks to make sure there is nothing caked on.
c) Check the trap at the bottom and clean out if necessary.
d) Run with dishwashing detergent for a full-length cycle. The washing agent should be a standard caustic one - not an "eco-friendly one."
5) I addressed this somewhat last night, but this afternoon, Rav Hershel Schachter released a formal teshuva regarding the use of technology this year on Yom Tov. If you are interested in this subject, please read it carefully here. I urge anyone who is considering making a decision in this realm to not do so based on anything distributed through the news or social media. Please, of course, feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss this or any other issues related to emotional/mental health on Shabbos/Yom Tov.
6) Here is a guide put together by Rabbanit Leah Sarna of Chicago for ways to make Pesach with reasonable ease. It will help identify what the most essential needs might be to reduce the stress of anyone who may not have made Pesach in recent years.
7) If you would like visual demonstrations of how to kasher a kitchen, please see these videos shared by the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County.
9) I have created a QJC Whatsapp Group for the purpose of allowing people to stay in touch with each other during this time and to share thoughts, experiences, and chizuk with each other. Click on this link from your phone if you would like to join. Of course, we remain committed to reaching everyone the best of our ability regardless of whether you have Whatsapp or choose to be part of the group.
10) To end with something uplifting, please see this video from Natan Sharansky, former Soviet refusenik, on some tips for staying positive during these trying times (thank you to Dr. Alan Slomowitz for sharing).
Wishing everyone a chodesh tov, and may this be a month where we merit the blessings of:
חיים ארוכים, חיים של שלום, חיים של טובה, חיים של ברכה, חיים של פרנסה, חיים של חלוץ עצמות...
A long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of physical health…
