Passover This Year

This year, Passover begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 8, 2020
and ends at sundown on Wednesday, April 15, 2020
(or at sundown on Thursday, April 16 for those who observe eight days).

Click here for a copy and recording of the Four Questions.

CELEBRATE PASSOVER WITH HAKAFA BY PARTICIPATING
IN ANY / ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
 

CONGREGATIONAL SECOND-NIGHT SEDER
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 we have made the decision to cancel Hakafa’s Second-Night Passover Seder. Those whose reservations we have already received have been contacted. We are disappointed that we will not be able to share our special, annual seder together in person, but everyone’s health and safety is our highest concern.

Celebrate the second night of Passover with Hakafa!

Our congregation will be hosting its annual Second-Night Passover Seder on Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 PM at the Winnetka Community House (620 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka). Members and their guests are cordially invited to attend this very festive and always memorable event. Expect delicious food, lively music, and wonderful companionship. Scholarships are available.

Click here to make your reservation online
OR
Click here for a downloadable paper reservation form

Please note that reservations are
due by March 26, 2020.
  

PASSOVER BOXES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Because many colleges and universities have suspended classes on campus and many students have been sent home as a result of concerns around COVID-19, we have decided that we will not be sending Passover Care Packages to our college students this year. 

Send a care package to your undergrad at Passover this year!  Volunteer Hakafa members perform the mitzvah of preparing Passover packages (which include items like matzah, candy, snacks, and a letter from Rabbi Elder) each year for our undergrads, reminding them that they are an important part of our Hakafa family and that we are thinking of them.

Just click here to place your order online OR click here for a downloadable paper order form, write a note to your undergrad if you'd like, and send both with $35.00 (checks should be made out to "Congregation Hakafa.") to Karen Berman (1231 Forest Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091) no later than March 20. Scholarships are available.

If you have any questions, please contact Hakafa member, Karen Berman. 

 

ROBINEAU SEDER - VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Due to concerns around COVID-19, CJE SeniorLife is not allowing outside visitors. As a result, Hakafa will not be leading a seder for the residents of Robineau this year.

Hakafa will again lead a Passover Seder for the residents of Robineau, a CJE SeniorLife Residence at 7550 N. Kostner Avenue in Skokie. The Robineau Seder will begin promptly at 3:30 PM on Thursday, April 9, and volunteers are needed to help lead it with other Hakafa members. We will end in time for anyone who wants to attend the Hakafa seder to do so. The seniors really appreciate our friendship. If you would like to participate and/or if you have any questions, contact Hakafa members, Don Pollak or Lynn Sanders. 
 

MAOT CHITIM
Due to concerns around COVID-19, Maot Chitim has decided to cancel their in-person food delivery for this Passover holiday. Instead, they will be purchasing and providing Jewel gift cards for their recipients, enabling them to purchase food for the holidays. If you would like to make a donation to help purchase Jewel gift cards, please click here.  

Hakafa’s volunteer participation in the mitzvah of Maot Chitim (providing meals to Jewish families in need) is scheduled for Sunday, March 22 from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM at a warehouse located at 7080 N. McCormick in Lincolnwood, in preparation for Passover. Join Hakafa members and others in the Chicago Jewish Community in packing boxes of food and other holiday necessities. Volunteers must be 12 or older and wear close-toed shoes. Please contact Rona Elder with questions and/or if you are interested in participating with Hakafa.
 
In addition, volunteers are invited to deliver packed boxes to area Jewish homes on Sunday morning, March 29. Box pick-up at the warehouse will be between 9:15 and 10:30 AM (sign up for a time slot at this link). Come with your car (especially large cars and vans) and families – and make sure to empty out your trunk! 

HAKAFA COMMUNITY BIYUR CHAMETZ
Due to the COVID-19 shelter-at-home order, we are diappointed that we will not be able to gather as a community for our annual Biyur Chametz.  

On the evening before Passover, it is customary to make a formal search of one's home for any remaining chametz (leavened bread) which is then to be burned in a special fire. This act of burning chametz is called Biyur Chametz. Again this year, we are holding a Hakafa Community Biyur Chametz. Anyone who would like to come and toss into our pit fire a symbolic crumb of bread or two - either one found in your home or extras we will have with us - should join us on Monday, April 6 anytime between 6:00 and 8:00 PM at Crow Island Woods Park (1140 Willow Road, Winnetka). Help us prepare for Passover, and bring your chametz to add to the fire!

Location and Parking: Crow Island Woods Park lies directly west of Crow Island School on Willow Road in Winnetka. Parking is available in the center of the park via a gravel road off of Willow Road. A picnic shelter with restrooms and stone fellowship circle/fire pit is located just south of the parking area.

 

YIZKOR SERVICE - LAST DAY OF PASSOVER

Jewish tradition tells us that four times during the year, in addition to the anniversary of the death of a loved one, we are to recall the memories of those who have died. These four times, known as yizkor (remembrance), coincide with major holidays on the Jewish calendar. The last day of Pesach is a day on which yizkor is recited. Please join us on Wednesday, April 15 at 10:30 AM via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out with our weekly announcements. Contact Rabbi Elder with questions.