Passover starts tonight – it’s our first seder! It’s a busy time, so a checklist is one of my essentials. I don’t want to miss something.
Here is my erev Pesach checklist – download it in Word (so you can edit) here: Erev Pesach 2013 Checklist. I originally got it from a Jewish homemaking listserve. I have modified it to suit me – please do the same! These things do not all need to be done today, but they are things that need to be done BY today. I also find listing all the times together helps me keep track. Here we go!
EREV PESACH CHECKLIST 2011
Stop eating chometz; brush teeth by______AM
Burn chometz by _____AM
Candlelighting: by _____PM
Food: cook/check ready
Matzah Ball Soup x 2 nights
Hardboiled eggs – 1 doz
Chicken stew
Rice
Side kugel (spinach/broccoli/squash)
Boil Potato (Karpas)
Check/cut up salads
Cookies / dessert
Lunch for kids, and light dinner, too!
Other to do:
Grocery if needed
Chill wine and bring up grape juice for seder
Final vacuuming
Empty vacuum bin
Laundry: fold and put away last load
Dust as needed
Dishes/pots clean!
Bathroom shined
Call family members to wish a Pesach sameach
Set table (picture if time! Of course, those with young children may need to wait longer to actually set the table or the kiddo may pull the whole tablecloth down onto themselves. Ahem. Hypothetical, of course.)
Set out hagadot and pillows for leaning
Bathe kids (and take the time to smell their shining, clean hair!)
Haircuts (as needed – preferably several days earlier!)
Cut nails
Shower
Prepare candles
Lights (set lights and timers)
Tear paper towels and tp
Empty Kitchen Garbage
Coins into tzedaka bank
Sweep Kitchen Floor
Check “public” bathroom for clean towels and surfaces
Prepare for SEDER
Set up on seder plate:
Charoset (apples, cinnamon, dates, etc.)
Zeroa (Roasted shankbone)
Baytza (Roasted egg)
Maror (Grate fresh)
Lettuce (Check for bugs)
Karpas (Parsley/Romaine)
And other things to prepare:
Salt Water (Mix before Yom Tov)
Check Matzos (3 or more shmura need to be whole for each seder!)
Set up plata/blech
Fill hot water urn
Get out matza cover, Eliyahu’s cup, afikomen bag, etc.
Set up timers as needed
Turn off or put away cellphone / computer/ electronics
Put away camera
Set Shabbat lamps in bedrooms
Check thermostat
Prep new toys/books – make sure they are easily accessible
Set out pjs for smaller kids so when they crash, it’s ready!
Drink and eat something
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