The Sephardic Passover (Pesach) Guide

Q: What are the primary differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Passover laws?

The most significant difference lies in the consumption of kitniyot . Sephardim traditionally permit rice, corn, and legumes, whereas Ashkenazim traditionally abstain.

Honoring our history, simplifying your preparation.

Sephardic Traditions & Laws of Passover

Understanding the halachic framework is the first step in preparing your home. Unlike Ashkenazi customs, Sephardic tradition maintains specific practices regarding grain and kitniyot that allow for a broader culinary experience while upholding the strict prohibition of chametz.

Aspect	Ashkenazi Customs	Sephardic Customs
Chametz Restrictions	Strict avoidance of kitniyot (legumes, grains, etc.) and other chametz products	Kitniyot (legumes, grains, etc.) are generally permitted during Passover
Preparation	Thorough cleaning and kashering of kitchen utensils and surfaces	Emphasis on cleaning and kashering, with regional variations in practices
Seder Plate	Includes symbolic foods such as charoset, maror, and karpas	Similar items on the Seder plate, with some variations based on regional customs
Matzah	Eaten throughout Passover as a symbol of haste in leaving Egypt	Eaten throughout Passover, with variations in types of matzah and usage
Dietary Customs	Strict adherence to Passover dietary laws, including specific kosher certifications	Adherence to Passover dietary laws, with some variations in permitted foods
Foods	Traditional Passover foods such as gefilte fish, matzah ball soup, and brisket	Varied cuisine reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of Sephardic communities
End of Passover	No specific post-Passover celebration	Mimouna celebration, featuring sweets, music, and hospitality

The Laws of Kitniyot: A hallmark of Sephardic practice is the permitted consumption of kitniyot (legumes, rice, and seeds) during Passover. This allowance is rooted in longstanding rabbinic rulings and community consensus, enabling us to maintain traditional dishes that would otherwise be excluded. While permitted, it is a common custom to sort and inspect rice three times before the holiday to ensure it is free of stray grains of wheat or barley.

These items are specifically noted in our Passover Approved Food List, ensuring you can maintain traditional dishes with confidence.

Bedikat Chametz (The Search): The search for leaven is performed with a blessing, followed by the formal nullification (bitul). We prioritize the traditional method of using a feather and wooden spoon, reflecting the historical practices passed down through generations.

Before the onset of Passover, it is customary for Jewish households to conduct a thorough search for any remaining hametz (leavened bread) within their premises. This tradition is rooted in the biblical commandment to remove all leavened products from one’s possession before the holiday begins. The search typically takes place on the evening before Passover, known as “Bedikat Hametz.”

Preparation: Prior to the search, gather a candle, a feather, and a wooden spoon or brush. Some also use a flashlight or smartphone for illumination.
Reciting the Blessing: Begin the search by reciting the blessing: “Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al bi’ur hametz.” This blessing sanctifies the mitzvah of removing the hametz.
Search Procedure: With the candle or light source, carefully inspect each room, closet, cupboard, and storage area in the home. Use the feather or brush to sweep any crumbs or traces of hametz into the wooden spoon or bag.
Final Check: After completing the search, it is customary to conduct a final check to ensure that no hametz remains. This may involve retracing steps and inspecting areas where hametz might have been overlooked.
Declaration: Once the search is complete, recite the declaration: “Kol chamira v’chamiya d’ikah b’irah d’lo batel v’lo yimatzei, l’hefker k’afra d’ar’a.” This statement nullifies any remaining hametz that may have been overlooked.
Burning the Hametz: On the morning of Passover, any remaining hametz that was found during the search is ceremoniously burned. This act symbolizes the complete removal of leavened products from one’s possession and reaffirms the commitment to observing the holiday’s dietary laws.
Reciting the Blessing: Before burning the hametz, recite the blessing: “Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu bi’ur hametz.” This blessing acknowledges the mitzvah of destroying the hametz.
Disposal: Once the hametz has been burned, it is important to ensure that no remnants remain in the home. This may involve cleaning any utensils or surfaces that came into contact with hametz during the search and burning process.

By diligently performing the search for hametz and burning it before Passover, individuals fulfill the commandment to rid their homes of leavened products and prepare spiritually for the festival of freedom.

Need to perform the ritual?
- Submit Chametz Form
- Prayers for Burning Chametz

The Seder Plate & Step-by-Step Order

As we prepare to embark on the sacred journey of Passover, known in Hebrew as Pesach, we are called to observe timeless traditions that have been passed down through generations. Among these cherished customs is the arrangement of the Seder plate, a symbolic centerpiece that captures the essence of the Passover story. In accordance with the teachings of Sephardic tradition, we meticulously arrange each element on the Seder plate, infusing our celebration with profound meaning and reverence. Let us delve into the significance of each item and the meticulous order in which they are placed, guided by the wisdom and heritage of our ancestors.

The Seder Plate

Maror (Bitter Herbs) – Place the bitter herbs, typically romaine lettuce or endives, representing the bitterness of slavery, on the Seder plate.
Charoset – Arrange the Charoset mixture, made from fruits, nuts, and wine, symbolizing the mortar used by the Israelites in their labor in Egypt, on the Seder plate.
Karpas (Vegetable) – Position a vegetable, such as parsley or celery, representing the springtime and renewal, on the Seder plate.
Z’roa (Shank Bone) – Place a roasted lamb shank bone or a chicken wing, symbolizing the Paschal sacrifice, on the Seder plate.
Beitzah (Hard-Boiled Egg) – Set a hard-boiled egg, symbolizing both mourning and the festival offering, on the Seder plate.

The Seder (Step by Step Order)

Step	Description
Kaddesh	Commence the Seder with Kiddush, using red wine or grape juice. Recite “Shehecheyanu” after the Kiddush, and remember to recline while drinking.
Urchatz	Before Karpas, wash hands without a blessing, observing purity laws.
Karpas	Dip Karpas into vinegar or saltwater, recite blessings, and consume.
Yachatz	Break the middle Matzah, keep the smaller piece, and set aside the larger for the Afikoman.
Magid	Begin the Haggadah. The Seder plate is raised, and everyone recites “Ha Lahama Anya”. After “Ha Lahama Anya”, pour the second cup of wine and recite “Mah Nishtanah”. Continue with the Haggadah reading.
Rohtzah	Wash hands again, this time with a blessing, in preparation for “Hamotzi”.
Motzi Matzah	Say the blessings over the Matzah and consume it.
Maror	Eat the Maror (bitter herbs), dipped into Haroset or Haleq.
Korech	Make a sandwich with Matzah and Maror, dipped in Haroset, and eat it while reclining.
Shulhan Orekh	Enjoy the Passover feast.
Tzafun	Retrieve and eat the Afikoman.
Barekh – Birkat Hamazon	Recite “Birkat Hamazon” (Grace after the Meal) and drink the third cup of wine, reclining to the left.
Hallel	Fill the fourth cup of wine, recite Hallel, and conclude the Haggadah. Drink the fourth cup while reclining to the left.
Nirtzah	Pray for acceptance and redemption, and conclude the Seder.

Sephardic Passover Cuisine & Recipes

Our culinary tradition is the heart of the holiday. For Sephardic Jews, Passover cuisine is not defined by restriction, but by a vibrant celebration of the ingredients that sustained our ancestors through centuries of migration and adaptation. From the aromatic use of toasted spices to the inclusion of rice and traditional legumes, these recipes are a testament to the resilience of our heritage. Explore the dishes that transform the Seder table into a bridge between our Iberian roots and our Middle Eastern legacy.

These practices are rooted in Sephardic kashrut halakha. Learn Sephardic Kashrut Principles →

One of the most beloved examples of this tradition is our Moroccan Charoset, a rich blend of dates, walnuts, and warming spices that captures the essence of Sephardic Passover.

👉 Explore our Authentic Moroccan Charoset Recipe for Passover

Passover Food List: Sephardic Standards

We have compiled an authoritative guide to help you distinguish between items that are acceptable for your pantry and those that require special certification. Please note that while many Sephardic communities permit kitniyot, all ingredients must be inspected to ensure no accidental mixture with actual chametz has occurred.

In collaboration with and published with permission from Kashrut.org.

Passover Torah Readings & Haftarah

During Passover, Jews observe special Torah and Haftarah readings that coincide with the holiday’s eight days, including the intermediary days known as Chol HaMoed. These readings, drawn from the biblical texts, are integral to the Passover observance, offering insights into the themes of liberation, redemption, and renewal. Additionally, Shabbat occurring during Passover presents unique readings, combining passages from Exodus, Numbers, and Ezekiel. This table outlines the Torah and Haftarah readings for each day of Passover, along with any exceptions or variations in the readings for Shabbat and other special occasions.

Day	Torah Reading	Haftarah Reading	Exceptions/Notes
1st Day	Exodus 12:21-51	Joshua 3:5-7; 5:2-6:1, 6:27 (Sephardim)	1st day: Exodus 12:21-51; 2nd day: Leviticus 22:26-23:44
2nd Day	Leviticus 22:26-23:44	Jeremiah 31:1-20	2nd day: Leviticus 22:26-23:44; 3rd day: Exodus 13:1-16
3rd Day	Exodus 13:1-16	Ezekiel 36:37-37:14	3rd day: Exodus 13:1-16; 4th day: Exodus 22:24-23:19
4th Day	Exodus 22:24-23:19	Isaiah 10:32-12:6	4th day: Exodus 22:24-23:19; 5th day: Leviticus 9:1-14
5th Day	Leviticus 9:1-14	Samuel 20:18-42	5th day: Leviticus 9:1-14; 6th day: Exodus 33:12-34:26
6th Day	Exodus 33:12-34:26	Ezekiel 37:1-14	6th day: Exodus 33:12-34:26; 7th day: Numbers 28:19-25
7th Day	Numbers 28:19-25	II Kings 23:1-9	7th day: Numbers 28:19-25; 8th day: Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17
8th Day	Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17	Isaiah 10:32-12:6	8th day: Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17
Shabbat	Exodus 33:12-34:26; Numbers 28:19-25	Ezekiel 37:1-14	Torah reading: Exodus 33:12-34:26; Numbers 28:19-25; Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Passover Podcasts & Reflection

Passover is more than a set of rules; it is a transformative historical narrative. Explore our curated insights and audio reflections designed to deepen your connection to the Exodus story through a Sephardic lens.