Pesach Preparation

Start with rooms furthest from kitchen — bedrooms, storage areas, balcony. Check under furniture and in Ezra's play areas for crumbs and snacks.

Check car seats, stroller pockets, and diaper bag compartments where crackers or snacks may have been stored.

Keep one counter or table area for chametz meals in the days leading up to Pesach. Simplify meals to minimize spread.

Jerusalem rabbinate and most neighborhood shuls offer mechirat chametz forms. Complete before the 5th halachic hour on Erev Pesach.

Use candle, feather, wooden spoon, and paper bag. Place 10 pieces of bread around the apartment. Include Ezra's room and high chair area.

Use one of the neighborhood burning stations — check local shul or municipality notice for locations in your Jerusalem neighborhood.

Run self-clean cycle if available. Otherwise scrub thoroughly and heat to maximum temperature for 1 hour. Clean racks separately.

Clean thoroughly, then heat grates on high flame for 15 minutes. For glass cooktops, clean and cover with aluminum foil or designated Pesach covers.

Use heavy-duty aluminum foil or dedicated Pesach shelf liners. Secure edges with tape to prevent shifting.

Bring out Pesach storage boxes. Verify nothing is missing or damaged. Store chametz dishes in sealed cabinets or tape them shut.

For stainless steel: clean thoroughly, don't use for 24 hours, then pour boiling water over entire surface. For porcelain: use sink inserts.

Thoroughly clean high chair tray and straps. Switch to Pesach-designated bottles, sippy cups, and baby utensils.

Matzah (regular and shmura for seder), wine (4 cups per adult), grape juice for Ezra, potato starch, Pesach oil, eggs, fresh produce. Jerusalem supermarkets stock early — Rami Levy, Shufersol, and Machane Yehuda.

Hand-made shmura matzah sells out quickly. Order from local bakery or neighborhood distributor at least 2 weeks ahead.

Check kosher l'Pesach certification on all baby food. Many standard baby products contain kitniyot or chametz. Prepare homemade purees as backup.

Romaine lettuce for maror (check for bugs carefully), horseradish root, parsley for karpas, dates/walnuts/wine for charoset.

Most standard cleaning products are fine. Check specialty items — some sprays and soaps may contain wheat-derived ingredients.

Roast shankbone (zeroa) and egg (beitzah). Prepare charoset. Wash and check romaine lettuce. Grate horseradish.

Prepare reclining pillow for the leader's chair. Set out enough haggadot for all guests. Use a large wine cup for Eliyahu.

Feed Ezra dinner early. Have a portable crib or playpen near the table. Prepare quiet toys and board books. Consider shifts for holding/entertaining.

Wrap middle matzah in napkin. Plan age-appropriate hiding spots. For a toddler, keep it simple and visible.

Soup, main course, and kugels can be prepared Erev Pesach afternoon. Keep food warming on plata/blech. Ensure enough for both seder nights.

Jerusalem area options: Botanical Gardens, Biblical Zoo, Ein Yael, Sataf springs, Emek HaArazim park. Book popular attractions in advance — demand is very high.

Keep counters covered, check all new food purchases for Pesach certification. Wipe down Ezra's eating area after every meal.

Pesach in Israel is 7 days. Prepare a meal plan to avoid last-minute scrambling. Freeze extra portions from Yom Tov cooking.

Wait until the time chametz sold back is confirmed (check with rabbi). Remove coverings, return chametz dishes, store Pesach items. Restock pantry.