Passover started after dark this year
Perhaps columnist Jamie Wayne should have consulted a Jewish calendar.
Ordinarily, the Jewish day does indeed begin with sunset. However, Wayne is apparently unaware of the special circumstances (not to be repeated for another 14 years) prevailing this year.
When the Sabbath (before sunset on Friday through after stars are out on Saturday) immediately precedes a festival, the festival candles cannot be lit until after dark.
This is in accordance with the Jewish practice of extending the Sabbath's observance until after dark on Saturday night, to prevent the slightest chance of doing any of the 39 forbidden categories of work.
Thus, Wayne was incorrect in writing "evening." His correct choice of words should have been "after dark." But wait, it gets better: Wayne should have consulted not only a calendar, but that the day indicated as "First Day of Passover" is recognized as the Jewish date and therefore begins with the previous sunset. That's usually sunset. See above. So the correct first sentence of Wayne's column should have read: "Passover begins after dark this Saturday night." Clear as mud now?
Hedy Weiss
